EU Sanctions Five Right-Wing Activists and Three Israeli Groups in West Bank

The European Union has sanctioned five extremist right-wing activists from Israel and three groups operating in the West Bank in connection with violence against Palestinians and obstructing aid to Gaza. According to the EU's decision announced on Monday, July 16, Baruch Marzel, Bentzi Gopstein, Moshe Shroyt, Tzvi Bar Yossef, and Yisachar Man were sanctioned for their involvement in violence against Palestinians. Baruch Marzel advocates for the ethnic cleansing of Palestinians. Bentzi Gopstein is the founder of the Lehava group, which is suspected of committing violence against Palestinians. Mr. Shroyt, who owns a farm by this name in the Jordan Valley near the West Bank, is described as someone who has committed violence and threats against Palestinian residents in areas adjacent to his farm. Following the attack by Hamas militants on Israel, which is recognized as a terrorist group by the US and the EU, the activities of far-right groups in Jewish settlements in the West Bank against local Palestinians have increased. Mr. Tzvi Bar Yossef also owns a farm and livestock business named Tzvi in the West Bank. He is suspected of harassing residents of three Palestinian villages around his farm and causing serious injuries to several of them. Yisachar Man hopes to develop several pre-fabricated mobile homes into an Israeli settlement in the southern part of Hebron, Al-Khalil. On Monday, the EU also included the Lehava group, founded by Bentzi Gopstein, along with the Tsav 9 group in its sanctions list. The Tsav 9 group was formed in January of this year, and its activists block roads to prevent convoys of trucks carrying fuel and supplies heading to Gaza as a sign of opposition to this aid. The US had previously sanctioned the Tsav 9 group. Last week, the US State Department sanctioned three individuals and five Israeli groups, including Lehava, as agents of violence and instability in the West Bank. Canada also sanctioned the Amana group last month, which is active in the Jewish settlements in the West Bank, considering it a factor in violence and establishing small settlement outposts (which are set up by placing several pre-fabricated mobile homes next to each other). The sanctions imposed on Monday by the EU represent the second sanctions list against Israeli activists in Jewish settlements in the West Bank, increasing the number of sanctioned individuals and groups to 14. The first set of sanctions was imposed last month. The sanctions prohibit these governments from having direct or indirect financial and commercial relations with the sanctioned individuals, posing a threat of prosecution for potential offenders. The assets and potential bank accounts of these individuals and groups will also be frozen in EU countries. Entry of the sanctioned individuals into the territories of EU member states is also prohibited. According to Haaretz, Israel is concerned that the sanctions imposed on institutions and individuals associated with Israeli settlements in the West Bank will increase following the International Court of Justice ruling regarding the illegality of the occupation of the West Bank.