The occupation army protects settlers in their attacks against Palestinians in the West Bank (French)
Yesterday evening, Friday, the Israeli Broadcasting Authority quoted sources confirming that the United States is preparing to impose sanctions on Israeli army soldiers working in the West Bank due to the lack of law enforcement against settler violence against Palestinians.
An internal report by the Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs indicated that if the US government does not provide answers 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 army leaders.
The broadcasting corporation reported that the administration of US President Joe Biden warned Israel several times against not enforcing the law against settler violence against Palestinians, but Tel Aviv's response was not satisfactory.
Expansion of sanctions
According to the broadcaster, Israel takes the Biden administration's threats seriously, as the government prepares for the possibility of expanding sanctions to include army officials, members of the Knesset, and ministers.
A ministerial discussion on this issue is expected to be held in cooperation with the Military Prosecutor’s Office to find out how to avoid expanding the matter, according to the official body.
On January 1, Biden signed an executive order allowing 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 authorizes the issuance of financial sanctions and visa restrictions against individuals found to have attacked or terrorized Palestinians or seized their property.
Biden believed that the situation in the West Bank, especially the high levels of violence by extremist settlers and the destruction of property, has reached unbearable levels and constitutes a serious threat to peace, security and stability in the region.
Early this month, Israeli sources reported that the Biden administration is considering imposing sanctions on the two extremist ministers in the Israeli government, National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir and Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich.
It is noteworthy that last December, the United States began imposing a ban on granting entry visas to people involved in violence in the occupied West Bank.
Settlers' attacks, protected by the Israeli army, against Palestinians in the West Bank have increased since October 7, coinciding with the occupation launching a campaign of arrests and raids in various cities in the West Bank.
Source: Al Jazeera + Anatolia