February 12, 2024
By VOA News
A Palestinian man checks a car burned in a raid by Israeli settlers near Salfit in the Israeli-occupied West Bank, Dec. 3, 2023.
Britain imposed sanctions Monday against four Israeli nationals, accused of violently attacking Palestinians in the Israeli-occupied West Bank.
British Foreign Secretary David Cameron called the four individuals “extremist Israeli settlers” and imposed strict financial and travel restrictions on them because of what was described as their "egregious abuses of human rights."
"Extremist Israeli settlers are threatening Palestinians, often at gunpoint, and forcing them off land that is rightfully theirs," he said.
The British Foreign Office said over the past year there have been unprecedented levels of violence by residents who have illegally settled in West Bank outposts.
"This behavior is illegal and unacceptable. Israel must also take stronger action and put a stop to settler violence. Too often, we see commitments made and undertakings given, but not followed through," Cameron said.
"Extremist settlers, by targeting and attacking Palestinian civilians, are undermining security and stability for both Israelis and Palestinians," Cameron added.
The United States also imposed sanctions earlier this month on four Israeli men it accused of being involved in settler violence in the West Bank.
The European Union is also mulling over imposing sanctions on Israeli settlers attacking Palestinians in the West Bank but so far, there has not been unanimity among the member states on such measures.
Four diplomats who spoke on the condition of anonymity about internal EU deliberations said that Hungary and the Czech Republic, two strong allies of Israel, made clear in an EU committee meeting Thursday that they were not ready to approve a proposal on sanctions.
Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto said Wednesday now was "definitely not the time" to sanction Israeli settlers, state news agency MTI reported. Budapest says the EU's focus should be on helping Israel to defeat Hamas and free hostages taken by the militants during the Hamas attack on southern Israel on October 7.
Czech Foreign Minister Jan Lipavsky said his country was not "substantively" blocking sanctions on settlers inciting violence. Lipavsky, however, expressed reluctance to adopting such measures alongside sanctions against Hamas, which the EU has listed as a terrorist organization over the October attacks.
"An act of terrorism is not on the same level as acts by settlers,” he said. "These things cannot be connected."
France, which has been pushing for settler sanctions, is expected to introduce national travel bans on two or three individuals imminently. Reports say France is hoping that once its measures are in place, European partners will be more willing to press ahead.
"Once we have our measures, we shall see how the others react," said a French diplomatic source.
The European Union has not spelled out what the sanctions would entail but officials have said they would include bans on travel to the EU.
Some information in this report came from Reuters, Agence France-Presse, and The Associated Press.
Britain sanctions 4 'extremist' Israeli settlers for West Bank violence against Palestinians
Palestinian Wadha Nawaagah pours water for her goats in the village of Susya in the south Hebron hills, West Bank. Britain on Monday sanctioned four "extremist" Israeli settlers for violence against Palestinians in the West Bank.
Photo by Debbie Hill/UPI | License Photo
Feb. 12 (UPI) -- The British government on Monday sanctioned a group of "extremist" Israeli settlers who it said have violently attacked Palestinians in the West Bank.
British Foreign Secretary David Cameron announced the sanctions against Moshe Sharvit, Yinon Levi, Zvi Bar Yousef and Ely Federman who he said joined other extremist settlers in targeting and attacking Palestinian civilians and therefore "undermining security and stability for both Israelis and Palestinians."
"Today's sanctions place restrictions on those involved in some of the most egregious abuses of human rights. We should be clear about what is happening here. Extremist Israeli settlers are threatening Palestinians, often at gunpoint and forcing them off land that is rightfully theirs," Cameron said. "This behavior is illegal and unacceptable. Israel must also take stronger action and put a stop to settler violence. Too often, we see commitments made and undertakings given, but not followed through."
Officials said settler Levy, who was previously sanctioned by the United States earlier this month, and Sharvit, have used physical violence against displaced Palestinians, while Yosef set up an illegal outpost to harass Palestinians and Federman was involved with "multiple incidents" against Palestinian shepherds in South Hebron Hills.
As part of the sanctions, all four will face strict financial and travel restrictions.
British officials said the Israeli government's failure to take action has left the settled to attack Palestinians with "near total impunity" in the West Bank.
Yesh Din, an Israel-based non-governmental organization, accused Israeli settlers this past weekend of throwing stones car the cars of Palestinians and tear-gassing drivers.
"The measures taken today are part of wider U.K. efforts to support a more stable West Bank, which is vital for the peace and security of both Palestinians and Israelis," the office said.
UK sanctions 'extremist' Israeli settlers in West Bank
February 12, 2024
Britain today imposed sanctions on four Israeli nationals saying they were extremist settlers who had violently attacked Palestinians in the Israeli-occupied West Bank, Reuters reports.
The measures impose strict financial and travel restrictions on the four individuals, who Britain said were involved in “egregious abuses of human rights”.
“Extremist Israeli settlers are threatening Palestinians, often at gunpoint, and forcing them off land that is rightfully theirs,” British Foreign Secretary David Cameron said.
“This behaviour is illegal and unacceptable. Israel must also take stronger action and put a stop to settler violence. Too often, we see commitments made and undertakings given, but not followed through.”
According to the government: “Two of the individuals designated today – Moshe Sharvit and Yinon Levy – have in recent months used physical aggression, threatened families at gunpoint, and destroyed property as part of a targeted and calculated effort to displace Palestinian communities.”
While another settler, Zvi Bar Yosef, set up an illegal outpost in the occupied Palestinian territories which has “been described by local Palestinian residents as a ‘source of systematic intimidation and violence’.”
The fourth settler to be hit with sanctions is Ely Federman, who was described as being “involved in multiple incidents against Palestinian shepherds in the South Hebron Hills.”
Britain’s Foreign Office said there had been unprecedented levels of violence by settlers in the West Bank over the past year.The US also imposed sanctions earlier this month on four Israeli men it accused of being involved in settler violence in the West Bank.
Britain today imposed sanctions on four Israeli nationals saying they were extremist settlers who had violently attacked Palestinians in the Israeli-occupied West Bank, Reuters reports.
The measures impose strict financial and travel restrictions on the four individuals, who Britain said were involved in “egregious abuses of human rights”.
“Extremist Israeli settlers are threatening Palestinians, often at gunpoint, and forcing them off land that is rightfully theirs,” British Foreign Secretary David Cameron said.
“This behaviour is illegal and unacceptable. Israel must also take stronger action and put a stop to settler violence. Too often, we see commitments made and undertakings given, but not followed through.”
According to the government: “Two of the individuals designated today – Moshe Sharvit and Yinon Levy – have in recent months used physical aggression, threatened families at gunpoint, and destroyed property as part of a targeted and calculated effort to displace Palestinian communities.”
While another settler, Zvi Bar Yosef, set up an illegal outpost in the occupied Palestinian territories which has “been described by local Palestinian residents as a ‘source of systematic intimidation and violence’.”
The fourth settler to be hit with sanctions is Ely Federman, who was described as being “involved in multiple incidents against Palestinian shepherds in the South Hebron Hills.”
Britain’s Foreign Office said there had been unprecedented levels of violence by settlers in the West Bank over the past year.The US also imposed sanctions earlier this month on four Israeli men it accused of being involved in settler violence in the West Bank.
Smotrich urges Israel banks not to enforce US sanctions on settlers
Israel’s Finance minister Bezalel Smotrich speaks during
Israel’s Finance minister Bezalel Smotrich speaks during
a parliament (Knesset) meeting in Jerusalem on July 10, 2023
[MENAHEM KAHANA/AFP via Getty Images]
MEMO
February 5, 2024
Israeli Finance Minister, Bezalel Smotrich, seeks to prevent Israeli banks from taking action against four settlers on whom the US has imposed economic sanctions, due to their involvement in terrorist attacks targeting Palestinians in the occupied West Bank.
Israel’s Channel 12 reported last night that Bank Leumi froze the account of one of the settlers targeted by American sanctions. This prompted Smotrich to try to intervene.
The report noted that two of the four settlers have accounts in Bank Hapoalim, which has not yet decided on the measures that will be taken in regards to the US sanctions.
Smotrich spoke to the banks supervisor in the Ministry of Finance in an attempt to prevent Israeli banks from taking similar measures and asked him to issue a clarification to all banks stating that the United States’ decision should not change anything in terms of Israeli law.
It is “unthinkable” for an Israeli bank to take action against an Israeli citizen following a US decision, Smotrich said.
“I will take action as the finance minister and do what I must,” he said, noting that “if need be, we’ll advance legislation on the matter.”
Officials in Israeli banks confirmed that they are obliged to enforce the measures Washington imposed on the four settlers, otherwise the US could sanction banks who continue to serve sanctioned individuals.
MEMO
February 5, 2024
Israeli Finance Minister, Bezalel Smotrich, seeks to prevent Israeli banks from taking action against four settlers on whom the US has imposed economic sanctions, due to their involvement in terrorist attacks targeting Palestinians in the occupied West Bank.
Israel’s Channel 12 reported last night that Bank Leumi froze the account of one of the settlers targeted by American sanctions. This prompted Smotrich to try to intervene.
The report noted that two of the four settlers have accounts in Bank Hapoalim, which has not yet decided on the measures that will be taken in regards to the US sanctions.
Smotrich spoke to the banks supervisor in the Ministry of Finance in an attempt to prevent Israeli banks from taking similar measures and asked him to issue a clarification to all banks stating that the United States’ decision should not change anything in terms of Israeli law.
It is “unthinkable” for an Israeli bank to take action against an Israeli citizen following a US decision, Smotrich said.
“I will take action as the finance minister and do what I must,” he said, noting that “if need be, we’ll advance legislation on the matter.”
Officials in Israeli banks confirmed that they are obliged to enforce the measures Washington imposed on the four settlers, otherwise the US could sanction banks who continue to serve sanctioned individuals.
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