Biden Administration Imposes Sanctions on Entities and Individuals Supporting Extremist Israeli Settlers
The Biden administration imposed sanctions on two entities, Mount Hebron Fund and Shlom Asiraich, and a person, the founder of an organization, for fundraising for previously sanctioned extremist Israeli settlers, Yinon Levi and David Chai Chasdai.
The violence against Palestinians by settlers in the West Bank has escalated, and this announcement comes amidst tension between President Biden and Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu over previous sanctions against West Bank settlers.
The Biden administration imposed financial sanctions on two Israeli men, Levi and Chasdai, for violently attacking Palestinians in the West Bank.
The penalties aim to prevent them from using the US financial system and prohibit American citizens from dealing with them.
A fundraising campaign for Levi, established by Mount Hebron Fund, raised approximately $140,000, while a campaign for Chasdai, by Shlom Asiraich, raised around $31,000.
The Mount Hebron Fund is linked to a regional council in the area, which receives state money.
The Biden order did not sanction the council itself, but rights groups claim that the expansion of illegal settler outposts in the West Bank is encouraged by the regional councils and the current Israeli government.
The Biden administration imposed sanctions on several individuals and organizations linked to Jewish extremist groups in the West Bank.
The sanctions targeted fundraisers on crowdfunding websites, including Charidy and GiveChak, where funds were raised for imprisoned Jewish extremists.
Two fundraisers have been taken down, but one linked to a previously sanctioned settler, Moshe Sharvit, remains online.
As of Friday, the GiveChak page had raised over $879,000.
The State Department also designated Ben-Zion Gopstein, the founder and leader of Lehava, an organization known for assaulting Palestinian civilians.
The administration stated that these organizations undermine peace, security, and stability in the West Bank.
President Biden has vowed to use executive orders to hold Israeli settlers in the West Bank accountable for attacking Palestinians and peace activists.
In February, he issued an executive order targeting these settlers for their alleged violent actions in the occupied territory.