On February 1, Reuters quoted sources in the US administration as saying that President Joe Biden will issue an executive order to punish Israeli settlers in the West Bank who are accused of causing trouble in the area.
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| US President Joe Biden has decided to take a tougher stance against Israeli settlers who commit acts of violence in the West Bank. (Source: AFP) |
Accordingly, individuals accused of participating in acts of violence against Palestinians will be punished.
Following the above information from the British news agency, the Biden administration officially issued an executive order imposing sanctions on four Israeli individuals whom the White House accused of being involved in violent acts in the West Bank.
The order would establish a system to impose financial sanctions and visa restrictions on individuals who attack or threaten Palestinians and seize their assets, according to a statement from White House National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan.
Previously, Mr. Biden and senior officials have repeatedly warned Israel to act to stop the violence caused by its settlers against Palestinians in the West Bank.
Following the events of October 7, 2023, there was a surge of such attacks in Israeli settlements built on occupied Palestinian land. In December 2023, the US began banning visas for Israelis involved in violence in the West Bank.
In response to this move, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu rejected the above executive order, emphasizing that the country "will take action against any criminals wherever they are, therefore, special measures on this issue are not necessary."
According to Mr. Netanyahu, the “vast majority” of settlers in the West Bank are “law-abiding citizens.”
Also on February 1, the Times of Israel quoted a senior US official as saying that Secretary of State Antony Blinken will visit Israel on February 4-5.
The agenda of the visit will revolve around the hostage release deal being negotiated in Paris, expanding humanitarian aid to the Gaza Strip and pushing Prime Minister Netanyahu to develop and implement a plan for "who" will govern the Gaza Strip after the conflict.
Mr. Blinken is also expected to visit Egypt to promote the plan to return hostages and a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas.
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