US imposes sanctions on Israeli settlers, outposts in occupied W. Bank
3 Min Read
The US State Department announces that the illegal settlements known as "Moshe's Farm" and "Zvi's Farm" were bases for violence against Palestinians.
-
Israeli forces in the flashpoint Palestinian town of Huwara in the occupied West Bank on Nov. 12, 2023 (AP)
It has been confirmed that the Biden administration has imposed sanctions on two illegal Israeli outposts and three settlers for undermining stability in the occupied West Bank as it urged "Israel" to act more to prevent settler violence, which the US claims is an obstacle to peace in the region.
With these moves, sanctioning countries almost always play the card of drawing an allegedly distinct line between Israeli settlers and "extremist settlers".
The State Department announced that the outposts known as "Moshe's Farm" and "Zvi's Farm" were bases for violence against Palestinians.
US State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller claimed that the US would continue to take action against those engaging in extremist violence and threatening peace and security in the occupied West Bank.
During a press briefing, Miller said, "It is critical that Israel take additional action to stop settler violence and hold accountable those responsible for it, not just for the sake of the victims of this violence, but for Israel's own security and standing in the world".
In response, Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich claimed that the sanctions were part of a "campaign designed to tarnish the entire State of Israel and lead to the dismantling of the settlement enterprise and the establishment of a Palestinian terrorist state."
The US also confirmed that those with sanctions imposed on them will have visa bans imposed as well.
Thursday's sanctions targeted the individual Moshe Sharvit, who "harassed, threatened, and attacked" Palestinian civilians near the "Moshe's Farm" outpost, which he founded as confirmed by the State Department.
Read next: US issues anti-settler violence order, 'Israel' says 'no room' for it
Zvi Bar Yosef, founder of "Zvi's Farm", alongside Neriya Ben Pazi, who expelled Palestinian shepherds from hundreds of acres of land, were also targeted.
This marks the first instance of the United States applying sanctions to entire settlements rather than targeting individual settlers. The decision allegedly aligns with the Biden administration's increased pressure on Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's government concerning various issues, including the surge in settler violence against Palestinians and the ongoing aggression in Gaza.
Back in February, the Israeli occupation's Kan public broadcaster cited an internal Foreign Ministry memorandum that the United States would issue sanctions backed by the Leahy laws against settlers, forces, and ministers if "Israel" does not hand over an explanation for the “gross violations of human rights” in the occupied West Bank within 60 days.
The memorandum was reportedly penned by representatives from the Foreign Ministry and the IOF's Military Advocate Corps to whom US State Department officials have expressed concern by the Biden administration regarding the settler violence in the occupied West Bank.
With that being said, the Leahy laws are US statutory provisions forbidding aid to foreign military units given “credible information that such unit has committed a gross violation of human rights.”
