In a defiant response to international sanctions, Israeli settlers in the West Bank have not only weathered the storm but have emerged stronger and more emboldened than ever. The sanctions, imposed by the United States on 13 hard-line Israeli settlers and their affiliated outposts, were meant to deter attacks and harassment against Palestinians in the region. However, the measures seem to have had the opposite effect, with settlers rallying together to support those affected.
Yinon Levi, one of the sanctioned settlers, found himself struggling to pay bills after his accounts were frozen. But his community quickly came to his aid, raising thousands of dollars for him and prompting Israel’s finance minister to intervene on behalf of the sanctioned settlers. Within two months, Levi was granted access to his funds, leading him to declare, “America thought it would weaken us, and in the end, they made us stronger.”
The sanctions, which include asset freezes and travel bans, have not deterred the settlers from escalating attacks and land-grabs in the West Bank. Palestinians in the region, as well as local rights groups, have reported a surge in settler violence and land seizures since the sanctions were imposed. Despite calls from US officials for settlers to stand down and investigations into the violence, rights groups accuse the Israeli government and army of complicity with the settlers.
While the sanctions were intended to send a strong message of condemnation, they have had limited impact on the sanctioned settlers. Communities have rallied together to support them financially, and Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich has vowed to cancel or reduce the sanctions with the help of the US. Smotrich, a far-right settler leader, has criticized the sanctions as a “grave mistake” by the Biden administration and has promised to take steps to protect Israeli settlers from international interference.
As the conflict in the West Bank continues to escalate, with settlers expanding their outposts and Palestinians facing increasing harassment and intimidation, the effectiveness of international sanctions remains in question. While some hope for further sanctions against Israeli government officials who support settler activity, others believe that targeting organizations funding settler expansion is crucial to achieving a lasting solution in the region.
Despite the challenges posed by sanctions, the Israeli settlers remain resolute in their determination to settle the land and secure their presence in the West Bank. Elisha Yered, a sanctioned settler involved in establishing outposts, remains undeterred in his expansion goals, declaring, “Only settling the land will bring security.” The settlers’ defiance in the face of international pressure underscores the complex and deeply entrenched nature of the conflict in the West Bank.