The Israeli Broadcasting Corporation reported yesterday evening, Friday, that sources confirm the United States is preparing to impose sanctions on soldiers in the Israeli army operating in the West Bank due to the failure to enforce the law against settler violence against Palestinians.
An internal report by the Israeli Foreign Ministry indicated that if answers are not provided to the US government regarding a series of accusations against soldiers and units of the Israeli army operating in the West Bank within 60 days, the United States will impose sanctions on the soldiers, in addition to commanders in the army.
The Broadcasting Corporation mentioned that President Joe Biden’s administration has warned Israel several times about the failure to enforce the law against settler violence against Palestinians, but Tel Aviv’s response has not been satisfactory.
Expansion of Sanctions:
According to the Broadcasting Corporation, Israel is taking Biden administration’s threats seriously, as the government is preparing for the possibility of sanctions expansion to include military officials, Knesset members, and ministers.
A ministerial discussion is expected to be held on this issue in cooperation with the Military Advocate General’s office to find out how to avoid expanding the matter, according to the official body.
On January 1st, Biden signed an executive order allowing for the imposition of sanctions on Israeli settlers who attack Palestinians in the occupied West Bank, as well as blacklisting 4 of them.
The executive order allows for financial sanctions and visa restrictions against individuals found to have attacked or terrorized Palestinians or seized their property.
Biden believes that the situation in the West Bank, particularly the high levels of violence by extremist settlers and property destruction, has reached intolerable levels and poses a serious threat to peace, security, and stability in the region.
Israeli sources reported earlier this month that the Biden administration is considering imposing sanctions on the extremist ministers in the Israeli government, National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, and Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich.
It is noted that the United States began imposing a ban on granting entry visas to individuals involved in acts of violence in the occupied West Bank last December.
Since October 7th, there has been an increase in settler attacks protected by the Israeli army against Palestinians in the West Bank, coinciding with the occupation’s campaign of arrests and raids in various cities of the West Bank.
