On Tuesday, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken issued a statement announcing a new visa restriction policy. Under this new policy, visa bans will be imposed on individuals who are found to be involved in activities that undermine these objectives. This could include a range of actions, from inciting violence to participating in unlawful activities that disrupt the peace and stability of the region.
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🗞️US imposes visa bans on Israeli settlers responsible for West Bank violence
‘We have underscored to the Israeli government the need to do more,’ Antony Blinken says during announcement https://t.co/2iI1F5TGLP
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Blinken has clarified that the newly announced visa restrictions will be specifically aimed at individuals who have been involved in acts of violence or other activities that limit civilians’ access to essential services and basic necessities in the West Bank. The policy also extends to the family members of these individuals.
President Joe Biden have repeatedly expressed their apprehension about the escalating violence in the West Bank, where Israeli settlers have been involved in conflicts with Palestinians. This situation has seen a significant increase following the attack on Israel by Hamas on October 7.
BREAKING: The US will impose visa travel bans on extremist Israeli settlers in the West Bank, US secretary of state Antony Blinken has confirmed.https://t.co/SRF9UQTybO
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“We have underscored to the Israeli government the need to do more to hold accountable extremist settlers who have committed violent attacks against Palestinians in the West Bank,” Blinken said.
During meetings in Israel last week, Blinken told officials Washington was “ready to take action using our own authorities,” he said.
Matthew Miller, the spokesperson for the State Department, has announced that the first set of visa bans under the new policy will be implemented starting Tuesday.
Miller further elaborated that the policy is not merely symbolic, but will have tangible effects. It is expected to impact dozens of individuals who have been identified as contributing to the unrest in the West Bank.
Any Israeli with an existing U.S. visa who was targeted would be notified that their visa was revoked, Miller said.
After the 1967 Middle East war, a significant geopolitical shift occurred when Israel took control of the West Bank. The majority of the global community considers these settlements to be illegal, a viewpoint based on the Fourth Geneva Convention.
Despite this, Israel disputes the illegality of these settlements. It argues that the Fourth Geneva Convention does not apply as there was no recognized sovereign in the territory prior to the 1967 war. Furthermore, Israel asserts historical and biblical connections to the land, citing the ancient Jewish kingdoms of Israel and Judah.
According to data from the UN, there has been a significant escalation in the frequency of settler attacks, with the daily rate more than doubling. This increase in violence coincides with the actions of Hamas. During this period, Hamas has been responsible for the deaths of approximately 1,200 Israelis and has taken an estimated 240 individuals hostage.
In response to these actions, Israel has launched a series of military operations in Gaza. These operations, which have included both bombings and ground invasions, have resulted in a tragic loss of life. The death toll in Gaza has exceeded 15,000.
Last week, U.S. State Department expressed the desire for Israel to take legal action against those responsible for the violence in the West Bank. However, the official noted that, so far, the U.S. has not seen Israel take this step.
Blinken said Washington would “continue to engage with the Israeli leadership to make clear that Israel must take additional measures to protect Palestinian civilians from extremist attacks,” adding that the Palestinian Authority also must do more to curb Palestinian attacks against Israelis.
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