The US State Department, as announced by Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Tuesday, will institute visa bans for individuals involved in destabilizing peace, security, or stability in the occupied West Bank, introducing a new policy on visa restrictions.
These restrictions will be aimed at those who have engaged in acts of violence or taken measures that impede civilians’ access to essential services and basic necessities, potentially extending to include family members of these individuals, according to Blinken.
The statement did not specify any individuals subject to visa bans or indicate the number of individuals to be targeted.
President Joe Biden and other senior US officials have consistently cautioned Israel to take action against violence by Israeli settlers directed at Palestinians in the West Bank, particularly since the Hamas attack on Israel on October 7.
“We have emphasized to the Israeli government the necessity of taking further steps to hold extremist settlers accountable for violent attacks against Palestinians in the West Bank,” remarked Blinken.
During recent meetings in Israel, Blinken conveyed that Washington was prepared to utilize its own authorities to address the situation.
Since the 1967 Middle East war, Israel has occupied the West Bank, a region Palestinians envision as the core of an independent state. The construction of Jewish settlements in the area, regarded as illegal by most countries, is disputed by Israel, citing historical and biblical ties to the land.
UN figures indicate that daily attacks by settlers have more than doubled since the October 7 Hamas attack, leading to increased concerns. Hamas, which controls the separate Palestinian enclave of Gaza, had previously caused fatalities and taken hostages, prompting Israel to respond with bombings and invasions that resulted in over 15,000 casualties.
A senior State Department official expressed last week that the US urges Israel to prosecute those responsible for violence in the West Bank, but as of now, such action has not been observed.
Blinken affirmed that Washington will persist in engaging with Israeli leadership to stress the need for additional measures to safeguard Palestinian civilians from extremist attacks. He also called on the Palestinian Authority to enhance efforts to restrain attacks by Palestinians against Israelis.
