The British government reported on Monday (February 12, 2024) that it had imposed new sanctions on four “extremist Israeli settlers” who “violently attacked” Palestinian communities in the “occupied” West Bank. The State Department said the sanctions would restrict the four people’s finances and freedom of movement to stop “ongoing settler violence” that has threatened the territory’s stability for months.
Foreign Secretary David Cameron reiterated in the statement that the British executive will ensure that those who undermine peace “are held to account.” “We have to be aware of what is happening here. Extremist Israeli settlers threaten Palestinians, often at gunpoint, and force them to give up land that rightfully belongs to them,” denounced the conservative minister. “Israel must take stronger action and end settler violence,” he added.
The Foreign Office’s targets include Moshe Sharvit and Yinon Levy, who in recent weeks have resorted to physical aggression, intimidating families with firearms and destroying property “as part of a selective and calculated effort to displace Palestinian communities.” London will also impose sanctions on Zvi Bar Yosef and Ely Federman, including asset freezes and visa and travel restrictions to the UK.
This British decision supports the February 1 move by the United States to impose sanctions on a group of Jewish settlers accused of violence against Palestinian civilians in the West Bank. In fact, Yinon Levy was already on the list of persons sanctioned by the United States. The European Union has also expressed concern about violence by some Israeli settlers, which has increased since last October. They killed at least 10 Palestinians and burned dozens of homes in the occupied West Bank in 2023, according to human rights group Yesh Din. This made it the “most violent” year for settler attacks.