Biden Administration Sanctions Israeli Settler Group for Violence in West Bank
The Biden Administration has issued its sixth round of sanctions targeting Israeli settler violence in the West Bank, sanctioning a group that secures illegal outposts and a civilian security guard accused of attacking Palestinians.
The US sanctions against Hashomer Yosh (Guardians of Judea and Samaria) and Yitzhak Levi Filant follow two recent settler rampages in Palestinian towns near Bethlehem, resulting in two Palestinian deaths. No arrests have been made in connection to the attacks, which is part of a broader trend of impunity for such violence.
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The US sanctions come amid concerns about the lack of enforcement by Israeli authorities, with reports suggesting that the Israel Police, overseen by National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir, is not taking adequate action against settler violence. The head of the Shin Bet security service has reportedly expressed frustration in private meetings about this issue.
In response to the perceived lack of accountability, the US, along with other Western countries, has started imposing sanctions on Israeli extremists. In February, President Joe Biden issued an executive order granting him the authority to impose these sanctions, with 11 individuals and 11 entities being designated to date.
Hashomer Yosh, one of the entities targeted, supports at least 26 illegal farming outposts in the West Bank and has ties to other US-designated individuals accused of violence against Palestinians. The organization has received over NIS 8 million ($2.2 million) from the Israeli Agriculture Ministry and the Negev, Galilee, and National Resilience Ministry since 2018.
