The Biden administration has announced new sanctions targeting Amana, the largest organization involved in the development of Israeli settlements in the West Bank. The sanctions, which were imposed by the U.S. Treasury Department on Monday, come as part of a broader U.S. effort to address instability and violence in the occupied Palestinian territories.
Amana has been linked to the establishment of numerous illegal settler outposts and the dispossession of Palestinian land, according to the U.S. State Department. The organization also maintains connections to individuals previously sanctioned by the U.S. for their roles in inciting violence in the region.
The sanctions also extended to Binyanei Bar Amana Ltd., a construction company that builds homes in these settlements. In a separate action, the U.S. State Department sanctioned three companies and three individuals for their involvement in violence against civilians and the destruction of property in the West Bank.
This move comes amid growing calls from Democratic lawmakers, who have pushed President Biden to impose more severe penalties on Israeli officials. In late October, nearly 90 Democrats signed a letter urging sanctions on far-right Israeli ministers Bezalel Smotrich and Itamar Ben-Gvir for their roles in promoting settler violence.
The Biden administration’s latest sanctions follow an executive order issued earlier this year, which allows the U.S. to take action against those undermining peace and stability in the West Bank. Despite these efforts, pressure continues to mount from within the administration and the Democratic Party to hold Israel’s government more accountable for its actions in the occupied territories.
CNN, ARY NEWS, GEO NEWS, BBC NEWS, REUTERS
