US says it imposes additional sanctions on individuals, organisations involved in settler violence in West Bank

AMMAN — The US Department of State said that additional actions were taken on Wednesday against individuals and organisations engaged in settler violence in occupied West Bank. 

"Extremist settler violence in the West Bank causes intense human suffering, harms Israel’s security, and undermines the prospect for peace and stability in the region," the Department of State said in a statement, adding that it is critical that the government of Israel hold accountable any individuals and entities responsible for violence against civilians in the occupied West Bank.

"As part of efforts to address the extreme levels of instability and violence against civilians in the occupied West Bank, the US is taking additional actions today [Wednesday] against those who engaged in or provided material support for violent activities there."

The Department of State said it was imposing sanctions on Hashomer Yosh, an Israeli nongovernmental organisation that provides material support to US-designated outpost Meitarim Farm, and US-designated individuals Yinon Levi, Neriya Ben Pazi and Zvi Bar Yosef, the statement said.  

After all 250 Palestinian residents of Khirbet Zanuta were forced to leave in late January, Hashomer Yosh volunteers fenced off the village to prevent the residents from returning.  The volunteers also provided support by grazing the herds and purporting to “guard” the outposts of US-designated individuals, it said. 

The department also said it was also sanctioning Yitzhak Levi Filant (Filant), the civilian security coordinator of the Yitzhar settlement in the West Bank. 

The US will continue to take action to promote accountability for those who commit and support extremist violence affecting the West Bank, the statement said.