The United States has imposed sanctions on a nonprofit organization that has received funding from the Israeli government and the civilian security chief of a West Bank settlement in response to escalating violence in the region.
The nonprofit, Hashomer Yosh, was established ten years ago with the aim of supporting and protecting farms in Israeli West Bank settlements. The State Department accused the organization of providing “material support” to an Israeli outpost and settlers already under U.S. sanctions, as well as fencing off the Palestinian village of Khirbet Zanuta to prevent the return of 250 displaced Palestinian residents.
Yitzhak Levi Filant, the civilian security coordinator of the Yitzhar settlement, was also sanctioned for his alleged involvement in leading a group of armed settlers in an attack on Palestinians in February.
These sanctions are part of the United States’ efforts to address extremism among settlers and hold accountable those responsible for violence against Palestinians in the West Bank. Previous rounds of sanctions targeted individual settlers, West Bank outposts, far-right organizations supporting sanctioned individuals, and groups obstructing aid to Gaza.
The State Department emphasized the importance of holding Israeli citizens accountable for acts of violence against Palestinians, stating that such actions cause human suffering, jeopardize Israel’s security, and hinder peace and stability in the region.
The latest sanctions come amidst escalating conflict in the West Bank, including an Israeli military operation in Jenin and Tulkarm that resulted in casualties. The Israeli government has protested the sanctions, labeling them as unwarranted interference in its internal affairs.
Hashomer Yosh, which receives funding from Israeli government ministries, defended itself against the sanctions, asserting its commitment to lawful activities in support of Israeli agriculture.
The use of sanctions by the Biden administration against citizens of an allied country has raised eyebrows, but recent reports suggest that sanctions have become a more common tool in American foreign policy.
J Street, a liberal Israel lobby, welcomed the sanctions as a message to the Netanyahu government and its extremist allies, highlighting the role of certain Israeli officials in enabling settler violence and emphasizing the importance of upholding peace, justice, and equality.