The Foreign Secretary has announced sanctions in response to
continued violence by extremist Israeli settlers in the occupied
West Bank.
Today's measures target three settler outposts and four
organisations that have supported, incited and promoted violence
against Palestinian communities in the West Bank. Settler
violence often seeks to force Palestinians to leave their homes,
and seize their land for the construction of outposts, which are
illegal under both international and Israeli law.
The measures follow an unprecedented rise in settler violence in
the West Bank over the last year, with the UN recording over
1,400 attacks by settlers against Palestinian communities since
October 2023.
The month of October sees the beginning of the olive harvest in
the West Bank, an important time both culturally and economically
for Palestinians. It has traditionally suffered spikes in
violence as organised settler groups disrupt and attack
Palestinians.
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.
Foreign Secretary said:
When I went to the West Bank earlier this year, on one of my
first trips as Foreign Secretary, I met with Palestinians whose
communities have suffered horrific violence at the hands of
Israeli settlers.
The inaction of the Israeli government has allowed an environment
of impunity to flourish where settler violence has been allowed
to increase unchecked. Settlers have shockingly even targeted
schools and families with young children.
Today's measures will help bring accountability to those who have
supported and perpetrated such heinous abuses of human rights.
The Israeli government must crack down on settler violence and
stop settler expansion on Palestinian land. As long as violent
extremists remain unaccountable, the UK and the international
community will continue to act.
The illegal settler outposts sanctioned today - Tirzah Valley
Farm Outpost, Meitarim Outpost, and Shuvi Eretz Outpost - have
been involved in facilitating, inciting, promoting or providing
support for activity that amounts to a serious abuse of the right
of Palestinians not to be subjected to cruel, inhuman or
degrading treatment or punishment.
The four organisations sanctioned today are Od Yosef Chai
Yeshiva, Hashomer Yosh, Torat Lechima and Amana.
Od Yosef Chai Yeshiva is a religious school embedded in the
Yitzhar settlement known to promote violence against non-Jewish
people.
Hashomer Yosh is a non-governmental organisation that provides
volunteers for illegal outposts, including Meitarim Outpost (also
sanctioned today). Meitarim was founded by the extremist settler
Yinon Levy, who the UK sanctioned in February.
Torat Lechima is a registered Israeli charity that has been
documented as providing financial support to illegal settler
outposts linked with acts of violence against Palestinian
communities in the West Bank.
Amana operates in practice as a commercial construction company.
Amana has overseen the establishment of illegal outposts and
provides funding and other economic resources for Israeli
settlers involved in threatening and perpetrating acts of
aggression and violence against Palestinian communities in the
West Bank.
