US sanctions fundraisers for extremist West Bank settlers who commit violence against Palestinians

WASHINGTON — The Biden administration on Friday imposed sanctions on two entities accused of raising money for extremist Israeli-occupied settlers in the West Bank who have harassed and attacked Palestinians, as well as the founder of an organization whose members regularly attack Palestinians .

The Treasury announcement comes as the West Bank has witnessed the worst violence committed by extremist settlers against Palestinians since the start of the war in nearby Gaza.

There is also friction between President Joe Biden and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, whose far-right government has reacted angrily to previous sanctions on settlers in the West Bank.

Included in the Friday sanctions are two entities – Mount Hebron Fund and Shlom Asiraich – accused of raising money for sanctioned settlers Yinon Levi and David Chai Chasdai.

The Mount Hebron Fund’s fundraising campaigns for Levi and Shlom Asiraich’s for Chasdai generated the equivalent of $140,000 and $31,000, respectively, according to the U.S. Treasury Department.

The penalties are intended to deter them from using the U.S. financial system and deter U.S. citizens from interacting with it.

In addition, the State Department designates Ben-Zion Gopstein, the founder and leader of Lehava, an organization whose members have attacked Palestinian civilians.

Deputy Treasury Secretary Wally Adeyemo said the organizations “undermine peace, security and stability in the West Bank. We will continue to use our tools to hold those responsible to account.”

In February, Biden issued an executive order targeting Israeli settlers in the West Bank accused of attacking Palestinians and Israeli peace activists in the occupied territory.