2024-02-01T19:24:06+00:00
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/ US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken announced on Thursday the imposition of financial sanctions on four Israelis linked to violence against civilians in the West Bank, in compliance with the orders of President Joe Biden, while Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu commented on these sanctions.
“These designations were imposed under a new executive order that gives the United States the authority to issue financial sanctions against those who direct or engage in violence or threats against civilians, intimidate civilians from their homes, destroy or seize property, or engage in terrorist activities in the West Bank,” Blinken said in a statement.
“The United States has consistently opposed actions that undermine stability in the West Bank and the prospects for peace and security for Israelis and Palestinians alike,” Blinken added. “This includes attacks by Israeli settlers against Palestinians and Palestinian attacks against Israelis… There is no justification for extremist violence against civilians, regardless of their national, ethnic, or religious origin.”
The US Secretary of State called on Israel to “do more to stop the violence against civilians in the West Bank and hold those responsible accountable,” stressing that the United States “will continue to take the necessary measures to advance the foreign policy goals of the United States, including the viability of the two-state solution.”
For its part, Israel described the vast majority of West Bank settlers as “law-abiding” and said it was dealing with those who did not, indicating its displeasure with Washington’s tightening of sanctions on settlers accused of attacking Palestinians.
“Israel takes action against all lawbreakers everywhere, and therefore there is no need to take extraordinary measures on this issue,” a statement from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office said.
The United States will impose sanctions on four individuals first, freezing any assets they may have in the United States and preventing Americans from doing any financial transactions with them.
This is the first time that financial sanctions have been imposed on settlers, but the administration of US President Joe Biden had previously announced that it would refuse to grant entry visas to extremists among them who are involved in violence.