OR Great Britain today announced new sanctions against “extremist” Israeli settlers in West Bankcalling on Benjamin Netanyahu’s government to act appropriately to end the climate of “impunity” in this Palestinian territory occupied by Israel since 1967, as well as to “stop the expansion of settlers into Palestinian lands”.
“These measures are a response to the continued increase in violence that is devastating Palestinian communities in the West Bank,” explained the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in a statement.
This occupied territory is experiencing an increase in violence following Hamas’ unprecedented attack on Israel on October 7, 2023 and the start of the war in Gaza. The UN has recorded more than 1,400 settler attacks against Palestinian communities since October 2023.
At least 635 Palestinians were killed there by the Israeli army or settlers, according to an AFP count based on official Palestinian figures.
THE sanctions those who concern a total of three Jewish settlementsare a continuation of the sanctions that were decided at the beginning of May and specifically targeted “Extremist” settlers.
The Jewish settlements of Tirzah Valley Farm, Meitarim and Suvi Eretz “encouraged and facilitated activities that constitute a serious violation of the rights of Palestinians,” the Foreign Ministry statement said.
Four Israeli organizations are also targets of these sanctions: h Gesture (Talmudic school) Od Yosef Saih Hasomer Yosh Torat Lesima and Amana. Od Yosef Chai Yeshiva is a religious school known for promoting violence against non-Jews. The Hashomer Yosh organization provides volunteers for illegal posts. Torat Lechima is registered as a charity providing financial support to Jewish settlements and Amana is a construction company.
“The Israeli government must crack down on settler violence and end the legalization of settlements,” said Foreign Minister David Lammy.
“OR Israeli government inaction allowed the development of a climate of impunity where settler violence could escalate unchecked,” he added, noting that settlers also targeted schools and families with young children. He said the new sanctions would make it possible to “hold to account those who supported and committed such abhorrent human rights abuses.”
Almost 490,000 settlers live in the West Bank alongside three million Palestinians. The year 2023 marked a record for the growth of Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank, with the highest number of construction permits issued in 30 years, according to a report by the European Union delegation to the Palestinian Territories.
Under international law, Jewish settlements built on land captured by Israel in the 1967 Six-Day War are illegal, and their expansion has for decades been one of the most controversial issues between Israel, on the one hand, and the Palestinians. international community, on the other. Israel claims biblical, historical and political ties to the region.
Source: AMPE