WASHINGTON D.C. – President Biden has issued an executive order targeting Israeli settlers in the West Bank who have been carrying out violent assaults against Palestinians in the occupied territory. The order names four individuals and aims to lay the groundwork for financial sanctions against those responsible for these attacks. This move comes in response to the increase in settler violence following Hamas’s attack on Israel three months ago, which sparked a full-scale war in Gaza.
While the order specifically targets Israeli settlers, it will not affect U.S. citizens who are part of the settler community. This action builds on a previous order from the Biden administration, which imposed travel bans on Israeli settlers involved in attacks against Palestinians late last year.
The executive order represents the first time the U.S. has threatened to freeze assets and bank accounts of Israeli settlers in an effort to curb the attacks on Palestinians. The White House national security adviser, Jake Sullivan, emphasized the gravity of the situation, stating that this violence poses a serious threat to peace, security, and stability in the region, as well as to the national security and foreign policy interests of the United States.
According to the United Nations, there have been nearly 500 attacks by settlers on Palestinians in the West Bank since the start of the Israel-Hamas war in Gaza. These attacks have resulted in deaths, injuries, and property damage. Three of the four men named in the executive order have already faced prosecution by Israeli authorities, with one of them being indicted on assault and damage charges in 2022.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu responded to the announcement, asserting that Israel takes action against anyone who breaks the law, and exceptional measures are unnecessary. However, some experts and human rights organizations view the executive order as a significant step in addressing the issue of settler violence that has been largely unchecked by Israeli law enforcement. They see it as a signal that the U.S. is willing to take measures to sanction individuals involved in severe violent attacks against Palestinians.
While there are differing opinions within Israel regarding the executive order, it reflects the ongoing international concern over the escalation of violence in the region. This move by the Biden administration aligns with its commitment to promoting peace and stability in the Middle East.