According to the US "Political News Network" and AFP on February 1, Biden issued an executive order on the same day to impose sanctions on Jewish settlers who "undermine peace, security and stability" in the West Bank.
In the order, Biden said the situation in the West Bank, "particularly extremist settler violence, which has led to the forced displacement of people and villagers and the destruction of property — has reached intolerable levels and poses a serious threat to peace, security and stability." ”
U.S. ** Biden Source: Visual China.
Subsequently, the United States *** announced the imposition of sanctions against 4 Israelis, all their assets in the United States will be frozen, and Americans will be prohibited from conducting financial transactions with them. The four include D**id Chai Chasdai, accused of leading a riot in the West Bank town of Huwara that saw a Palestinian civilian killed and several homes burned, AFP said. The other was Yinon Levi, who was accused of leading a group of Jewish settlers in an attack on local civilians, burning their fields and destroying their property.
U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said, "Israel must do more to end violence against civilians in the West Bank and hold perpetrators accountable." According to AFP, Blinken has repeatedly raised the issue of Jewish settler violence to the Israeli side, and he will soon visit the region again.
Matthew Miller, a spokesman for the United States, said Israel had indicted three of the four, but more action was needed. "We will not hesitate to take more action if necessary," he said.
The move marks the first time that the United States has imposed financial sanctions on Jewish settlers, AFP noted. Earlier, Biden** announced that he would no longer issue visas to extremist settlers involved in the violence. Last December, Miller announced a U.S. visa ban on individuals who were engaged in violence in the West Bank, affecting dozens of individuals and their family members, and any Israeli citizen who already holds a U.S. visa will be notified of the visa revocation.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu Source: Visual China.
Following Biden's announcement of the sanctions, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office issued a statement condemning that "the vast majority of settlers in the West Bank are law-abiding citizens, many of whom are currently regularly engaged in fighting and serving in reserve forces defending Israel." Israel will take action against lawbreakers everywhere. Therefore, there is no need for special measures in this regard. ”
According to The Times of Israel and The Jerusalem Post, Israeli Finance Minister Smotrich accused Biden of having the same goal as anti-Semites, which is to legitimize attacks on Jewish settlers by imposing new sanctions on Israeli extremists who attack Palestinians.
In a statement, Smotrich completely denied the existence of the problem of Jewish settler violence, calling it "a lie spread by Israel's enemies to discredit the entire nation of Israel by slandering settlers, pioneers, and the settler movement, and harming them." The far-right minister also said that "it treats the victims as attackers and imposes sanctions on the settlers." Biden** is cooperating with these actions, which is too bad. ”
Ben-Gvir, another far-right Israeli minister and minister, urged the United States to "reconsider" its position on the West Bank, saying that "Biden's view of Israeli citizens and heroic settlers is wrong." Those who were attacked, those who were stoned, who were wounded and killed attempts, were heroic settlers of Judea and Samaria (Israel's name for the West Bank). ”