#Biden #Sanctions #Israelis #Perpetrate #Violence #Palestinians
Jakarta –
After signaling plans to recognize the existence of a Palestinian state, now the President of the United States (US) Joe Biden has again delivered a statement that seems pro-Palestinian. Joe Biden stated that he had imposed sanctions on Israeli settlers in the West Bank, Palestine.
Reported by AFP, Friday (2/1/2024), there were four Israeli settlers who were subject to US sanctions. Sanctions were imposed because the four Israeli settlers committed violence against West Bank residents, Palestinians, excessively.
As written by AFP, US sanctions against Israelis are a rare policy, especially in the midst of the Israeli versus Hamas conflict in the Gaza Strip which has not yet subsided as of now. Biden conveyed the sanctions against the Israeli citizens when Biden made a working visit to Michigan, an area in the US with a large Arab American population. Arab Americans are angry with Biden’s stance in supporting Israel.
“The situation in the West Bank – particularly the high levels of extremist settler violence, the forced displacement of residents and villages, and the destruction of property – has reached intolerable levels and represents a serious threat to peace, security and stability,” Biden said, in an executive order issued laid the groundwork for US action.
The State Department later announced sanctions against four settlers. Any assets they have in America will be blocked, and American citizens will be prohibited from conducting financial transactions with them.
The four people include David Chai Chasdai who is accused of leading riots in the conflict-stricken city of Huwara in which Palestinian homes were burned and a Palestinian civilian was killed following an attack that killed two Israelis.
Other targets included Yinon Levi, who was accused of leading a group of settlers from the Meitarim Farm outpost who attacked Palestinian and Bedouin civilians, burning their fields and destroying their property.
“Israel must do more to stop violence against civilians in the West Bank and hold those responsible accountable,” said Secretary of State Antony Blinken, who has repeatedly raised settler violence against Israel and will soon make a new trip to the region.
Blinken warned against actions that endanger the creation of a Palestinian state, an idea strongly opposed by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s right-wing government that includes settler supporters.
Israel criticized the sanctions imposed by its close ally, saying the “majority” of its citizens in the West Bank were law-abiding.
“Israel acts against all Israelis who violate the law, everywhere; therefore, extraordinary measures are not necessary,” said a statement from Netanyahu’s office.
State Department spokesman Matthew Miller said that Israel had prosecuted three of the four settlers but that further action was needed.
“We will not hesitate to take additional action if necessary,” he said.
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