In Response to Increasing Violence in the West Bank; The U.S. Sanctions Three Extremist Settlers and Two Israeli Checkpoints

On Thursday, the U.S. government imposed sanctions on three Jewish settlers and two Israeli checkpoints in the West Bank for allegedly undermining stability in the region, urging Israel to take further actions to prevent settler violence, which the U.S. believes hinders peace between Israelis and Palestinians. The U.S. State Department stated, 'Since the horrific terrorist attacks on October 7 against Israel, violence in the West Bank has significantly increased. The violence of extremist settlers against Palestinian and Israeli civilians and the forced displacement of farmers and villages poses a serious threat to peace, security, and stability in the West Bank, Israel, and the region beyond.' A spokesperson for the State Department reminded that 'in February, President Biden issued an executive order granting new authorities to the State Department to impose sanctions on those undermining peace, security, and stability in the West Bank, and the State Department has already sanctioned four individuals.' According to Matthew Miller, today's decision by the U.S. State Department to impose sanctions on three Israeli individuals and two related entities involved in undermining stability in the West Bank aims to hold accountable those who incite chaos in the West Bank and perpetuate violence. He emphasized that 'there is no justification for extremist violence against civilians or the eviction of families from their homes, regardless of their national, ethnic, racial, or religious backgrounds,' and reaffirmed that 'the United States is committed to sustainable peace and prosperity for both Palestinians and Israelis and will continue to use all available tools to increase accountability for those whose actions threaten peace, security, and stability in the West Bank.' President Biden, in his February 1 executive order, noted that threats to peace, security, and stability in the region undermine U.S. foreign policy goals, particularly the 'two-state solution' initiative, and create risks for the security of both Israelis and Palestinians. U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken also expressed disappointment earlier in March during a press conference in Buenos Aires, Argentina, regarding Israel's announcement of plans to build new housing units in the West Bank, emphasizing that these plans are detrimental to achieving lasting peace. The United Nations Human Rights Office, in a report published on March 9, stated that the establishment and expansion of Israeli settlements in the West Bank and East Jerusalem constitute a 'war crime' under international law. Volker Turk, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, noted in this report that 'the West Bank is currently caught in a crisis. However, settler violence and violence related to settlers have reached a shocking new level that jeopardizes any practical possibility of establishing a sustainable Palestinian state.'