The United States, on Tuesday, commenced the enforcement of visa bans on individuals implicated in violence within the Israeli-occupied West Bank, according to Washington officials. This move follows numerous calls for Israel to take decisive actions to curb violence by Jewish settlers.
Under the new State Department visa restriction policy, Secretary of State Antony Blinken stated that the focus is on “individuals believed to have been involved in undermining peace, security, or stability in the West Bank, including through committing acts of violence or taking other actions that unduly restrict civilians’ access to essential services and basic necessities.”
President Joe Biden and other senior U.S. officials have consistently cautioned Israel to address and prevent violence by Israeli settlers against Palestinians in the West Bank. The frequency of attacks has risen in recent months with the expansion of Jewish settlements, and it further intensified following the October 7 Hamas attacks on Israel.
During a visit last week, Blinken emphasized to Israeli officials that “they need to do more to stop extremist violence against Palestinians and hold those responsible for it accountable,” as highlighted by State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller in a press briefing after the announcement.
