President Biden sanctions West Bank settlers in a rebuke of Israeli violence
WASHINGTON ― President Joe Biden ordered the U.S. to impose financial sanctions on Israeli settlers who have attacked Palestinians in the West Bank in his administration's most significant action to try to calm West Bank violence amid the Israeli-Hamas war.
The sanctions, which Biden authorized through an executive order Thursday, target four Israelis who engaged in actions that "undermine peace, security and stability in the West Bank" through violence aimed at Palestinian civilians.
David Chai Chasdai initiated a riot in the West Bank that included burning vehicles and buildings and resulted in the death of a Palestinian civilian, according to the Biden administration.
Einan Tanjil is accused of assaulting Palestinian farmers and left-wing Israeli activists who sought to protect the Palestinians' farms.
Shalom Zicherman assaulted left-wing Israeli activists and their vehicles in the West Bank, blocking them on the street, while attempting to break windows of passing vehicles with activists inside, U.S. officials said.
Yinon Levi is accused of leading groups of settlers that assaulted Palestinian and Bedouin civilians, burned their fields and homes, and threatened additional violence if they did not leave their homes.
The White House announced the sanctions shortly before Biden departed Washington to attend a campaign rally in Michigan, a battleground state in the 2024 presidential election with a large Arab American population critical of Biden's support for Israel.
"There is no justification for extremist violence against civilians, whatever their national origin, ethnicity, or religion," Secretary of State Antony Blinken said in a statement. "Israel must do more to stop violence against civilians in the West Bank and hold accountable those responsible for it."
The Biden administration notified the Israeli government about the sanctions in advance. Some of the individuals have faced prosecution in Israel. None are Israeli government officials.
The sanctions ? which also apply to Palestinians if they're found to commit similar actions ? are designed to deny the individuals access to the U.S. financial system.
The U.S. will block all property and interest that the designated individuals have in the U.S. and deny their entry into the U.S. The actions will also prohibit U.S. citizens from contributing funds, good or services to the four individuals.
Biden has backed Israel throughout its war in Gaza following the Oct. 7 Hamas attack on Israel. But he faces increasing pressure ? at home and abroad ? to push Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to end the fighting amid the rising Palestinian death toll.
Biden addressed the war in Gaza in remarks Thursday at the National Prayer Breakfast held at the U.S. Capitol, saying he is actively working to ensure an "enduring peace" between Israelis and Palestinians "with two states for two peoples.”
Blinken said the U.S. will continue to take actions that support "the viability of a two-state solution, and is committed to the safety, security, and dignity of Israelis and Palestinians alike."
The West Bank is a landlocked area that forms the main bulk of the Palestinian territories.
Israeli settlers live in West Bank communities that are illegal under international law. These settlements are built on Palestinian lands in a Palestinian-governed area that Israeli's military has occupied since it won a war in 1967 with Arab countries.
While much of the world's attention has been focused on the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, settler attacks on Palestinians in the West Bank have surged since Oct. 7.
At least 242 Palestinians were killed in the West Bank and East Jerusalem in 2023 by the army and settlers, according to the United Nations. That compares to 171 in 2022.
Settlers have stormed Palestinian villages, beaten residents, torched homes and destroyed olive groves and farming equipment.
Contributing: Kim Hjelmgaard
Reach Joey Garrison on X, formerly known as Twitter, @joeygarrison.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Biden imposes sanctions on Israeli settlers attacking Palestinians
