WASHINGTON — Close to 90 Democrats in Congress, including eight Jewish officials, are urging President Joe Biden to impose sanctions on two far-right Israeli ministers during his lame-duck period.
Both ministers have been advocating for the annexation of part or all of the West Bank, a policy that the incoming Donald Trump administration may support.
The letter, sent on Oct. 29 and made public Thursday, was spearheaded by top Democrats in the U.S. House of Representatives and the Senate. It specifically called out Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich and National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir for their roles in promoting policies that fuel settler violence, undermine the Palestinian Authority, facilitate annexation, and destabilize the West Bank.
Biden has previously sanctioned individual settlers and settler groups accused of violence. However, the letter urges the president to also target cabinet officials who are instigating violence.
“Government leaders instigating violence must be subject to U.S. sanctions,” stated the letter, which was led by Rep. Rosa DeLauro of Connecticut and Sen. Dick Durbin of Illinois, among others. The letter, signed by 88 Democrats, emphasized the urgent need for further sanctions against Israeli officials promoting settler violence and annexation.
It remains uncertain whether Biden will take action during his lame-duck period, which ends on President-elect Donald Trump’s Jan. 20 inauguration. Past presidents have used this time to push through policies that they may have otherwise avoided due to electoral considerations.
During President Barack Obama’s lame-duck period in 2016, then-Vice President Biden attempted to dissuade Obama from allowing a United Nations Security Council resolution condemning Israel’s settlements. Despite Biden’s efforts, the resolution passed.
If Biden does decide to sanction Ben-Gvir and Smotrich, Trump could overturn the sanctions once he assumes office. However, imposing sanctions even for a short period would label the ministers as banned from entering the United States, creating a temporary stigma.
Such a move would also serve as a warning from Democrats against any potential actions by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to take advantage of Trump’s presidency to pursue policies that a Democratic president would not support. Smotrich, in particular, has already begun advancing annexation plans in light of Trump’s election. Mike Huckabee, Trump’s choice for ambassador to Israel, also backs annexation.
The letter also highlighted Ben-Gvir’s efforts to provide firearms to individual settlers and his failure to stop right-wing groups from obstructing aid to Palestinians in Gaza. As for Smotrich, the letter pointed out his inciting rhetoric, protection of instigators in the West Bank, calls for the destruction of a Palestinian town, and public support for annexing the West Bank.
The Jewish lawmakers who signed the letter include Reps. Becca Balint of Vermont; Jerry Nadler of New York; Steve Cohen of Tennessee; Jamie Raskin of Maryland; Seth Magaziner of Rhode Island; Jan Schakowsky of Illinois; and Sara Jacobs of California; as well as Sens. Bernie Sanders of Vermont and Brian Schatz of Hawaii.
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