Two far-right Israeli government ministers, Bezalel Smotrich and Itamar Ben-Gvir, are facing the possibility of sanctions after a US National Security Council meeting discussed the worsening security situation in the West Bank. While White House officials had recommended sanctioning the ministers, President Joe Biden expressed hesitancy due to their status as elected officials in a democracy.
Additionally, the meeting addressed the reversal of a policy regarding the labelling of West Bank settlement products as being “made in Israel”, which was initially announced by Mike Pompeo during Donald Trump’s presidency. The US has already sanctioned supporters and confidants of Smotrich and Ben-Gvir, with ongoing discussions on potential actions to be taken.
In light of the recent advisory opinion by the International Court of Justice declaring Israel’s occupation of the West Bank as illegal, the US has taken limited steps by sanctioning individuals and entities connected to violence against civilians in the region. Ambassador Jack Lew suggested engaging with Smotrich to alter his behavior, highlighting potential diplomatic efforts to address the situation.