The Foreign Secretary has announced sanctions on four extremist
Israeli settlers who have committed human rights abuses against
Palestinian communities in the West Bank.
There have been unprecedented levels of violence by extremist
settlers in the West Bank over the past year. Some residents of
illegal Israeli settlements and outposts have used harassment,
intimidation and violence to put pressure on Palestinian
communities to leave their land.
Two of the individuals designated today – Moshe Sharvit and Yinon
Levy – have in recent months used physical aggression, threatened
families at gunpoint, and destroyed property as part of a
targeted and calculated effort to displace Palestinian
communities. One illegal outpost, set up by Zvi Bar Yosef,
has been described by local Palestinian residents as a “source of
systematic intimidation and violence.”
Today’s measures put strict financial and travel restrictions on
those who commit these acts. These sanctions follow the
announcement by the Foreign Secretary in December that the UK
plans to ban those responsible for settler violence from entering
the UK to make sure our country cannot be a home for people who
commit these unacceptable acts.
Foreign Secretary said:
Today’s sanctions place restrictions on those involved in some of
the most egregious abuses of human rights. We should be clear
about what is happening here. Extremist Israeli settlers are
threatening Palestinians, often at gunpoint, and forcing them off
land that is rightfully theirs. This behaviour is illegal and
unacceptable. Israel must also take stronger action and put a
stop to settler violence. Too often, we see commitments made and
undertakings given, but not followed through.
Extremist settlers, by targeting and attacking Palestinian
civilians, are undermining security and stability for both
Israelis and Palestinians.
Those now subject to a UK asset freeze, travel and visa ban
include:
- Moshe Sharvit – an extremist settler who has threatened,
harassed and assaulted Palestinian shepherds and their families
in the Jordan Valley. In October 2023, one community of twenty
families fled after Sharvit attacked the residents and told them
they had five hours to leave;
- Yinon Levy – leader of the ‘Meitarim Farm’ outpost, founded
in 2021, whose settlers have used physical violence and the
destruction of property to displace Palestinian communities
including Zanuta in October 2023;
- Zvi Bar Yosef – a settler leader who, since setting up the
‘Zvi’s Farm’ outpost in 2018, has used intimidation and violence
against local Palestinians, including twice threatening at
gunpoint young families having a picnic;
- Ely Federman – involved in multiple incidents against
Palestinian shepherds in the South Hebron Hills.
Violence in the West Bank reached
record levels in 2023. Israel’s failure to act has led to an
environment of near total impunity for settler extremists in the
West Bank.
The UK Government has continued to call for Israel to take action
against those responsible for settler violence, release frozen
funds to the Palestinian Authority and halt settlement
expansion. The Prime Minister has raised this with Prime
Minister Netanyahu on a number of occasions, and in December, the
UK and 13 partners released a
statement calling on Israel to take immediate and
concrete steps to tackle record high settler violence in the
occupied West Bank.
The measures taken today are part of wider UK efforts to support
a more stable West Bank, which is vital for the peace and
security of both Palestinians and Israelis. The UK will consider
additional actions, including further sanctions, as
necessary.
The UK continues to work with allies and partners, including
across the region, to find a path towards a sustainable ceasefire
and permanent peace.
