President Biden on Thursday signed an executive order allowing the U.S. to impose new sanctions on Israeli settlers — and potentially Israeli politicians and government officials — involved in violent attacks against Palestinians.
The unprecedented executive order is the most significant step any U.S. administration has ever taken in response to violence by Israeli settlers against Palestinian civilians in the West Bank.
Some in Israel argue that the raid’s location in the West Bank, rather than Gaza, means that it was not an act of war.
The West Bank is under formal military occupation by Israel. Yet in that case, a separate body of law—International Human Rights Law (ihrl)—still applies. And ihrl does not permit assassination. The latest episode will intensify a raging debate over Israel’s compliance with the law.
The Biden administration has raised its concerns about settler violence numerous times with different Israeli governments over the last three years.
After the settler violence reached record levels following the Oct. 7 Hamas terrorist attack, Biden raised the issue publicly and privately with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Other senior U.S. officials have also brought up the issue with their Israeli counterparts in recent months.
It allows the administration to sanction leaders or government officials directly or indirectly involved in violence against Palestinians.
The executive order makes clear that individuals who are "directing, enacting, implementing and enforcing or failing to enforce policies that threaten the peace, security and stability in the West Bank" could be sanctioned.
What they're saying: "Israel must do more to stop violence against civilians in the West Bank and hold accountable those responsible for it," Blinken said later Thursday.
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