The United States has announced a visa ban on extremists responsible for violence in the Israeli-occupied West Bank. The move comes in response to the surge in attacks by Israeli settlers on Palestinians, as well as the violence caused by Palestinians. Secretary of State Antony Blinken emphasized the need to hold accountable extremist settlers who have committed violent attacks against Palestinians in the West Bank.
The visa ban will apply to “dozens” of extremist Israelis and some of their family members, according to US State Department spokesman Matthew Miller. However, the US cannot publicly name those targeted due to legal restrictions. This decision marks the latest expression of frustration from Washington towards the Israeli government’s stance on settlers.
It is worth noting that two senior far-right ministers, Itamar Ben-Gvir and Bezalel Smotrich, who are settlers themselves, have previously been accused of downplaying violence in the West Bank. Palestinians in the West Bank have also reported that Israeli settlers are taking advantage of the war in Gaza to seize land.
The international community largely considers the more than 250 settlements established since Israel’s occupation of the West Bank and East Jerusalem in 1967 as illegal under international law. However, Israel and the US dispute this interpretation. The United Nations has documented 314 settler attacks against Palestinians since 7 October, resulting in Palestinian casualties and damage to their property. In the same period, four Israelis, including three security forces personnel, have been killed in attacks by Palestinians in the West Bank.
The US decision to impose the visa ban on individuals involved in West Bank attacks comes shortly after Israel’s acceptance into the US Visa Waiver Program. This program allows Israeli citizens visa-free travel to the US. However, those targeted by the recent announcement will no longer be eligible for the program, and current US visa holders involved will have their travel passes revoked. It is important to note that this policy does not affect American passport holders.
The Israeli Defense Minister, Yoav Gallant, responded to the US decision by condemning the violence from extremists and reaffirming that the right to use violence in a state of law, such as Israel, belongs only to those authorized by the government.
This development highlights the ongoing tension between the Israeli government and extremist settlers, as well as the incidents of violence between Israelis and Palestinians in the West Bank. The US visa ban aims to discourage and hold accountable individuals involved in attacks, ultimately seeking to promote peace and stability in the region.
