US Set to Enforce Sanctions on West Bank Settlements, Sources Say

The United States is poised to levy sanctions against two illegal outposts in the West Bank used by Israeli settlers accused of extremist activities and attacks against Palestinians. In a broader move targeting the logistical and financial support structures of such attacks, three Israeli settlers are also expected to face sanctions. These actions expand upon previous measures taken by the Biden administration, which in February sanctioned four Israeli individuals for their involvement in settler violence.

The new sanctions would freeze any assets the individuals or entities have under U.S. jurisdiction, bar them from entering the United States, and prohibit them from engaging with the U.S. financial system. The sanctions mark the first time the U.S. has targeted Israeli outposts as entities, indicating an escalation in U.S. efforts to address settler violence. The U.S. State Department has not yet provided a comment on the forthcoming sanctions.

The anticipated sanctions come amidst heightened tensions in the region and criticism of Israeli settlement policies. Israel has controlled the West Bank since the 1967 Middle East war and has established settlements that most of the international community consider to be illegal, a view Israel disputes. The measures reflect ongoing concerns about the escalation of violence and the U.S. administration's stance on Israeli actions in the occupied territories.