President Biden Targets Violent Israeli Settlers in the West Bank, Imposes Sanctions on Individuals
In a significant move to address the ongoing violence in the West Bank, President Joe Biden has issued an executive order targeting violent Israeli settlers who have undermined stability in the area. The order, which was first reported by Politico and is expected to be announced on Thursday, will impose sanctions on several individuals accused of participating in violent acts.
The executive order specifically targets four individuals who have been directly involved in perpetrating violence or intimidation in the West Bank. These individuals have been accused of initiating and leading riots, setting buildings and vehicles on fire, assaulting civilians, and damaging property. The State Department has released the names of the Israelis targeted by the order, which includes David Chai Chasdai, Einan Tanjil, Shalom Zicherman, and Yinon Levi.
The White House has informed the Israeli government about their plans ahead of issuing the order. Officials have compiled evidence that they believe proves the individuals’ involvement in the West Bank violence. This evidence includes information from public reporting and is expected to withstand judicial review.
The State Department has provided specific details about the actions of each individual targeted by the order. David Chai Chasdai is accused of initiating and leading a riot that resulted in the death of a Palestinian civilian. Einan Tanjil was involved in assaulting Palestinian farmers and Israeli activists, causing injuries that required medical treatment. Shalom Zicherman assaulted Israeli activists and their vehicles, injuring two activists in the process. Yinon Levi led a group of settlers who created an atmosphere of fear in the West Bank by assaulting Palestinian and Bedouin civilians, threatening them with violence, and destroying their property.
It is important to note that the timing of these acts is unclear. The US has clarified that it does not plan to target Israeli government officials for sanctions. President Biden has previously condemned acts of violence in the West Bank and has personally discussed the issue with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
In response to the sanctions, Netanyahu’s office has stated that they are unnecessary. The office emphasized that Israel acts against all lawbreakers and that the majority of Israeli settlers in the West Bank are law-abiding citizens.
The executive order comes at a time when President Biden is facing backlash from key parts of his political coalition for his support of Israel in its war against Hamas in Gaza. While the order is not expected to address the situation in Gaza directly, it is seen as one of the more significant actions taken by Biden to critique Israel since the war began. It could also be seen as a signal from Biden towards Muslim and Arab-American voters who have expressed their dissatisfaction with his refusal to call for a ceasefire.
This move by President Biden follows a previous policy announced by Secretary of State Antony Blinken in December. The policy aimed to prevent extremist Israeli settlers responsible for violence in the West Bank from entering the United States. The State Department can apply this policy to both Israelis and Palestinians who have been involved in attacks in the West Bank.
Settler violence against West Bank residents has been a longstanding issue in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. The violence has intensified since the October 7 Hamas attack, leading to fears among Palestinians of revenge attacks. Dozens of Palestinians were killed in the weeks following the attack as settler violence escalated.
President Biden’s executive order targeting violent Israeli settlers is a significant step towards addressing the ongoing violence in the West Bank. By imposing sanctions on individuals involved in violent acts, the US is sending a strong message against such behavior. This action is likely to have implications for US-Israel relations and could impact Biden’s standing among different voter groups. As the situation continues to unfold, it remains to be seen how these measures will contribute to stability in the region and the resolution of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
