The U.S. has imposed sanctions on Hilltop Youth, a group of extremist settlers in the Israeli-occupied West Bank known for attacking Palestinians and their property. The State Department has also placed diplomatic sanctions on two individuals, Eitan Yardeni and Avichai Suissa, for their involvement in violence against West Bank civilians. These sanctions, which include asset freezes and travel and visa bans, come as violence against Palestinians has increased since the start of the Israel-Hamas war in October. Palestinians have reported harassment, restricted movement, and intimidation by settlers on motorbikes, cars, and horses, as well as surveillance by drones. The Treasury Department has accused Hilltop Youth of carrying out killings and mass arson, while rights groups and Palestinians say the group is responsible for “price tag” attacks on Palestinian villages. However, effectively sanctioning the group may prove difficult as it is loosely organized and decentralized, and Israel’s finance minister has previously promised to intervene on behalf of sanctioned settlers. The Biden administration has faced criticism for not imposing enough sanctions on Israeli extremists, with only 27 individuals and entities being sanctioned under President Biden’s February 2024 Executive Order related to maintaining West Bank stability. The Treasury’s Acting Under Secretary for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence, Bradley T. Smith, stated that the U.S. will continue to hold accountable those who facilitate “hateful and destabilizing acts.” State Department spokesman Matthew Miller added that the actions of these individuals contribute to an environment of violence and instability, undermining peace and security in the West Bank. Hilltop Youth has already faced sanctions from the EU and UK. Associated Press writers Julia Frankel and Jack Jeffrey contributed to this report from Jerusalem.
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