US Imposes Sanctions On ‘Extremist’ Israeli Settler Group

The United States unveiled further sanctions Tuesday against Israeli settlers over attacks on Palestinians and destruction of property in the West Bank.

The latest sanctions target the Hilltop Youth, which the US Treasury Department described as a “violent extremist group,” and comes amid soaring tensions in the region nearly a year after Hamas launched its unprecedented attack on Israel.

The US sanctions follow similar moves targeting the group by Australia, Britain and the European Union.

“The worsening violence and instability in the West Bank are detrimental to the long-term interests of Israelis and Palestinians, and the actions of violent organizations like Hilltop Youth only exacerbate the crisis,” said Acting Treasury Under Secretary for terrorism and financial intelligence Bradley Smith.

The West Bank — occupied by Israel since 1967 — has seen a significant spike in violence since the start of the Israel-Hamas war in Gaza on October 7, 2023.

In the past year, the United States has issued a series of sanctions targeting Israeli settlers, while repeatedly voicing concern to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu about the West Bank violence.

It has however made little impact on the decision-making of the Israeli government, a hardline pro-settler coalition.

“Hilltop Youth has conducted a campaign of violence against Palestinians, engaging in killings, arson, assaults, and intimidation intended to drive Palestinian communities out of the West Bank,” the US Treasury said Tuesday.

Among other incidents, the Treasury cited an April 2024 attack on the Palestinian town of al-Mughayyir, where Hilltop Youth “set fire to homes, buildings, and vehicles, beat villagers, looted property, including livestock, and left one Palestinian dead.

The US State Department also announced it was designating two individuals: Eitan Yardeni, over his connection to violence or threats targeting civilians in the West Bank;  and Avichai Suissa, who leads a group which provided support to previously sanctioned individuals.

AFP