The United States has consistently opposed actions that undermine stability in the West Bank and the prospects for peace and security for Israelis and Palestinians alike. Today, we are imposing sanctions on three Israeli individuals and five entities connected to acts of violence against civilians in the West Bank.
One of the targets of today's sanctions action is Lehava, an organization led by U.S.-designated Ben Zion Gopstein that has been involved in acts of violent extremism. Lehava's members have engaged in repeated acts of violence against Palestinians, often targeting sensitive or volatile areas. Additionally, we are imposing sanctions on four outposts that are owned or controlled by U.S.-designated individuals who have weaponized them as bases for violent actions to displace Palestinians. Outposts like these have been used to disrupt grazing lands, limit access to wells, and launch violent attacks against neighboring Palestinians.
The United States remains deeply concerned about extremist violence and instability in the West Bank, which undermines Israel's own security. We strongly encourage the Government of Israel to take immediate steps to hold these individuals and entities accountable. In the absence of such steps, we will continue to impose our own accountability measures.
