London adopts new sanctions against Israeli “extremist settlers” in the West Bank
The UK announced on Friday that it had adopted sanctions against Israeli “extremists” due to the “unprecedented increase” in violence committed by settlers in the West Bank, and called on the Israeli government to “crack down” on it. “Extremist settlers are undermining security and stability and threatening the prospects for peace,” British Foreign Secretary David Cameron said in a statement. These sanctions target two groups that have carried out “attacks” against Palestinians in the West Bank and four individuals “directly responsible for blatant violence against Palestinian civilians,” he added.
“The Israeli authorities must act” against those responsible for the violence, urged David Cameron, assuring that the United Kingdom “will not hesitate” to adopt other sanctions if necessary. The two sanctioned groups are Hilltop Youthfor having created «illegal settlements (…) with the mission of expelling all Palestinians from the occupied territories», according to London, and the movement Lehavafor having “facilitated, incited and promoted” violence against Arab and Palestinian communities.
Among the four individuals sanctioned was Noam Federman, former leader of the anti-Arab Kach movement (now banned), for “training groups of settlers to commit violence against Palestinians.” His son, Ely Federman, had already been sanctioned by London in February. The other three people sanctioned are Eden Levi And Neria Ben Pazifor their participation in attacks and intimidation against Palestinians, as well as Elisha Yered, «unofficial spokesperson for the group Hilltop Youth». The latter two have also been subject to European Union sanctions since last month.
The United States also took similar measures in February. There West Bank, Palestinian territory occupied by Israel since 1967, has been shaken by renewed violence since the start of the war between Israel and Hamas in the Gaza Strip, triggered by the Palestinian Islamic movement’s unprecedented attack on Israeli territory on October 7. According to official Palestinian sources, more than 491 Palestinians have since been killed by Israeli soldiers or settlers in the West Bank. More than 2.9 million Palestinians live in the occupied West Bank, separated from the Gaza Strip by Israeli territory. About 490,000 Israelis also live there, in settlements deemed illegal according to international law.
