On Friday, the United States imposed sanctions on an associate of Israel’s far-right national security minister and two organizations that raised funds for Israeli individuals accused of involvement in settler violence, as part of efforts to address the escalation of violence in the Israeli-occupied West Bank.
These new sanctions, in addition to those previously imposed this year on five settlers and two unauthorized outposts, indicate growing US dissatisfaction with the policies of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
The sanctioned entities, targeted with asset freezes and restrictions on dealings with Americans, include organizations that initiated fundraising campaigns to support settlers implicated in violence and previously subjected to sanctions, as announced by the Department of the Treasury.
The Biden administration’s actions against Israeli settlers have drawn criticism from right-wing members of Netanyahu’s coalition, who advocate for the expansion of Jewish settlements and the annexation of the West Bank, a territory where Palestinians hope to establish their future state.
These measures come at a time when the relationship between the US and Israel is complex, especially with the ongoing conflict in Gaza, and as the Biden administration urges Israel to exercise restraint in responding to retaliatory actions by Iran.
Among those targeted for sanctions is Ben-Zion Gopstein, the founder of the right-wing group Lehava, which opposes interfaith relationships and advocates against Arabs under the guise of religion and national security. Gopstein, who claims 5,000 members in Lehava, has been accused of involvement in destabilizing violence in the West Bank.
The European Union also announced its intention to impose sanctions on Lehava and other groups associated with violent settlers.
State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller highlighted Lehava’s role in inciting violence against Palestinians, particularly in sensitive areas, warning of further measures if Israel fails to prevent extremist attacks amid the recent escalation of violence in the West Bank.
In response, Ben-Gvir, a close associate of Gopstein and National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, condemned what he perceived as harassment against Lehava and settlers, dismissing the allegations as baseless and urging Western countries to cease cooperation with “antisemites.”
The sanctions also target crowdfunding efforts that raised funds for settlers accused of violence. Mount Hebron Fund and Shlom Asiraich were cited for their roles in raising funds for individuals like Yinon Levi and David Chai Chasdai, who were previously sanctioned for their involvement in violent incidents against Palestinians.
These enforcement actions, according to Michael Schaeffer Omer-Man of Democracy for the Arab World Now, underscore the efficacy of sanctions in holding accountable those who support violent settlers and evade US sanctions
