US imposes sanctions on Israeli settlers accused of West Bank violence
(VOVWORLD) - The Biden administration issued an executive order on Thursday that aims to punish four Israeli men it accused of being involved in settler violence in the West Bank, signaling growing US displeasure with the policies of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
 Israeli troops stand guard near a shooting scene in Hebron in the Israeli-occupied West Bank on February 1, 2024. (Photo: Reuters) |
The order establishes a system for imposing financial sanctions and visa restrictions against individuals who attack or intimidate Palestinians or seize their property, White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan said in a statement.
In December, the United States began imposing visa bans on people involved in violence in the Israeli-occupied West Bank. President Joe Biden and other senior US officials have warned repeatedly that Israel must act to stop violence by Israeli settlers against Palestinians in the West Bank.
Biden has raised the issue directly with Netanyahu, said one senior official, as he seeks a path to a two-state solution for Israel and the Palestinians once the Gaza conflict ends.