The U.S. announces new sanctions against occupied West Bank settler outposts

The U.S. Department of Treasury unveiled fresh sanctions on Thursday (March 14) targeting two unauthorized settlements in the occupied West Bank. These settlements served as operational bases for extremist Israeli settlers who launched attacks against Palestinian civilians, as disclosed by three U.S. officials to Axios.

This action aligns with the Biden administration’s escalating pressure on Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government, addressing concerns ranging from settler violence against Palestinians to the conflict in Gaza. According to the UN Humanitarian Office (OCHA), there were close to 500 attacks by Israeli settlers on Palestinians between Oct. 7 and Jan. 31 of the current year.

The latest round of sanctions, part of Biden’s strategy to counter settler violence, specifically targets Moshe’s farm and Zvi’s farm for their roles as hubs for attacks on Palestinian civilians. The Department of Treasury also designated three Israeli settlers—Moshe Sharvit, Zvi Bar Yosef, and Neriya Ben Pazi—for their involvement in these assaults.

A U.S. official emphasized that the sanctions aim at not only penalizing individuals but also entities providing logistical and financial support for attacks on Palestinian civilians. The sanctions freeze assets held by the three settlers and the two settlements in the U.S., bar them from obtaining U.S. visas, and restrict their access to the U.S. financial system.

On Feb. 1, President Biden signed an executive order empowering the U.S. to impose sanctions on Israeli settlers involved in violent attacks against Palestinians in the West Bank, potentially extending to Israeli politicians and government officials. This executive order marked a significant departure from previous U.S. administrations in response to the escalating violence.

The initial round of sanctions, imposed under the executive order, targeted four Israeli settlers directly implicated in attacks on Palestinians and actions leading to the forced displacement of Palestinian communities. Following suit, the U.K., France, and Canada announced similar sanctions.

Initially perceived as symbolic by the Israeli government and settler groups, the executive order swiftly garnered traction. Within days, Israeli banks announced the suspension of settlers’ accounts to comply with the new sanctions. However, Israel’s ultranationalist Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich urged banks to resist implementing U.S. sanctions and sought alternative measures through the Ministry of Finance.

Under pressure from the settler lobby, Netanyahu protested the move in a phone call with Biden in February, suggesting the prime minister was concerned the order could have unprecedented implications for the entire settlements’ enterprise in the West Bank.

Biden pushed back on Netanyahu’s complaint and told the Israeli prime minister the U.S. will continue sanctioning violent extremist settlers, a senior U.S. official said.