US imposes sanctions on entities supporting settlers in West Bank

The U.S. has announced new sanctions against multiple entities supporting extremist Israeli settlers in the West Bank, including the Mount Hebron Fund and Shlom Asiraich.

The measures have been announced by the Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control. 

They come as a response to the groups’ involvement in fundraising for violent extremists Yinon Levi and David Chai Chasdai.

Both were sanctioned in February for their roles in violence and harassment of Palestinians in the West Bank.

The agency has emphasized its commitment to holding accountable those involved in settler attacks and notes the complicity of the sanctioned entities in supporting previously designated individuals.

The Mount Hebron Fund and Asiraich raised significant sums, $140,000 and $31,000, respectively, through their fundraising efforts.

Additionally, Ben-Zion Gopstein, founder of Lehava, an organization linked to West Bank violence, has also been designated by the Department of State.

The sanctions block access to any U.S.-held property or interests of the designated entities, with potential penalties for financial institutions and people engaging in transactions with them.