‘Israeli extremist settlers’ accused of violating Palestinian human rights
London:
Britain on Monday announced sanctions against four “extremist Israeli settlers” accused of violating human rights against Palestinians in the West Bank, following a similar move by the United States earlier this month.
Britain says some residents of illegal Israeli settlements and outposts have “carried out unprecedented levels of extremist settler violence in the West Bank” over the past year.
The sanctions are a rare move by London and Washington to target Israel as the war with Hamas intensifies in the Gaza Strip.
The transatlantic allies’ unflinching support for Israel’s military operations in the territory has drawn harsh criticism from the international community and some at home.
“Israel must also take stronger action to stop settler violence,” British Foreign Secretary David Cameron said in announcing the new restrictions, which include a freeze on British assets and travel and visa bans.
He added: “Too often we see promises and commitments made but not followed through.”
Cameron said that “extremist Israeli settlers” often threaten Palestinians with guns and “force them to leave the land that is rightfully theirs”, calling this behavior “illegal and unacceptable”.
“Extremist settlers are undermining the security and stability of Israelis and Palestinians by targeting and attacking Palestinian civilians,” he added.
Cameron’s Foreign Office said two of those sanctioned – Moshe Shavit and Inon Levy – had carried out physical attacks, threatened families with guns and destroyed property in recent months.
Their actions were “part of a targeted and systematic effort to displace Palestinian communities,” the statement added.
London also targeted Zvi Bar Yosef, saying he set up an illegal outpost in the West Bank in 2018, which Palestinian residents described as “a source of systemic intimidation and violence”.
The fourth person sanctioned by London is Ely Federman, who was involved in several incidents targeting Palestinian shepherds in the South Bron Mountains, according to the Foreign Office.
On February 1, the United States announced sanctions against four Israeli settlers, and Levy was the only one of the four countries also subject to U.S. sanctions.
(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)
