International Sanctions on Israeli Settlers in West Bank Over Attacks on Palestinians

In the South Hebron Hills, West Bank, some Israeli settlers, farms, and groups faced international sanctions for allegedly attacking and harassing Palestinians. This issue stems from ongoing settlement expansion since Israel took control of the West Bank in 1967. Palestinians claim that Israeli outposts are growing, limiting their access to land, and settler violence has increased since a conflict with Hamas in October. Rights groups criticize the government and army for supporting the settlers. One of the sanctioned settlers, Yinon Levi, had his accounts frozen by a U.S. sanction in February. This caused financial difficulties for him, but his community supported him by raising funds. Despite the sanctions, Levi's father-in-law mentioned speaking to a government official, Smotrich, who promised to address the situation and potentially create a law against foreign interference. The situation has caused tension, with Smotrich criticizing the sanctions as a mistake by the Biden administration. He mentioned working with U.S. allies to reduce or eliminate the sanctions, which goes against U.S. policy. The impact of these actions on the affected settlers and the broader community remains a point of contention.