A group of Democratic lawmakers in the House and Senate has urged President Biden to impose sanctions on two Israeli ministers, accusing them of inciting violence against Palestinians and advocating for territorial annexation that hinders U.S. efforts to support a two-state solution.
In a letter sent late last month and made public on Thursday, 88 members of Congress called for sanctions against Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich and National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, both far-right figures in Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s coalition government.
Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich and National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir
The lawmakers argued that the continued support for settler violence and the implementation of annexation policies by these officials makes sanctions an urgent necessity. They emphasized that key individuals contributing to instability in the West Bank, which jeopardizes the security of both Israel and the broader region, as well as U.S. national security, should be held accountable.
These proposed sanctions would be based on an executive order issued by Biden in February, which targets individuals and groups involved in increasing violence by Israeli settlers against Palestinians in the West Bank. The Biden administration has reportedly considered applying this authority to the two ministers but has refrained from taking action, fearing it would set a precedent for penalizing a key U.S. ally.
The letter, originally sent privately to Biden, reflects growing frustration among Democrats over the president’s hesitation to impose consequences on Israel for the ongoing violence against Palestinians in both the West Bank and Gaza Strip.
With Israel’s conflict with Hamas continuing into its second year, following the October 7, 2023 attacks, Democrats are pushing for action now, before the potential shift in leadership under the incoming Trump administration, which may revoke such sanctions.
Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), one of the letter’s signatories, explained that the decision to go public was prompted by the White House’s lack of response and the narrow window before the transition to a new administration.
He stressed the importance of using the sanctions to send a clear message that the actions occurring in the West Bank are counterproductive to U.S. national security and long-term peace in the region, as they undermine the prospects for a two-state solution.
The Hill has reached out to the White House for a response.
This move is not isolated, as other countries have also raised the possibility of sanctioning these Israeli ministers. British Prime Minister Keir Starmer recently indicated that his government was considering such measures, particularly after Ben-Gvir’s comments defending settlers involved in violence against Palestinians and Smotrich’s controversial remarks on Gaza.
Matt Duss, executive vice president of the Center for International Policy, argued that U.S. action, even if temporary, would send a crucial signal to other nations, encouraging them to take similar measures against the Israeli government.
“Even if the next administration were to roll back these sanctions, it would signal to European countries that this step is long overdue,” Duss said. “European colleagues have consistently sought cues from the U.S. on how to proceed when the U.S. administration is hesitant or lacks the courage to act.”
