WASHINGTON – President Biden issued an executive order targeting Israeli settlers in the West Bank who have been attacking Palestinians in the occupied territory.
The order, issued on Thursday, names four individuals and sets the stage for financial sanctions against settlers who engage in violent assaults. The attacks have escalated since the Israel-Hamas conflict three months ago, resulting in a full-scale war in Gaza.
While the order focuses on just four individuals, this marks the first time the U.S. has taken aim at Israeli settlers with the potential freezing of assets and bank accounts, in an effort to curb attacks on Palestinians living in the West Bank – a crucial component for a future Palestinian state.
According to White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan, “This violence poses a grave threat to peace, security, and stability in the West Bank, Israel, and the Middle East region, and threatens the national security and foreign policy interests of the United States.”
The United Nations reported nearly 500 attacks by settlers on Palestinians in the West Bank since the start of the Israel-Hamas conflict in Gaza. These attacks have resulted in Palestinian casualties, as well as property damage and vehicle torching, according to Palestinian authorities and human rights groups.
The order has drawn mixed responses, with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stating that “Israel acts against all those who break the law everywhere, and therefore there is no room for exceptional measures in this regard.” Meanwhile, Israeli expert in settler violence Dror Etkes welcomed the news, indicating that all four individuals had been “involved in severe violent attacks against Palestinians.”
These developments highlight the ongoing conflict in the region and the impact of executive actions taken by President Biden in the efforts to address the situation.