clear

Creating new perspectives since 2009

Trump administration to lift sanctions on Israeli settlers

January 16, 2025 at 12:29 pm

Senator Marco Rubio on 15 January, 2025 in Washington, DC [Jabin Botsford/The Washington Post via Getty Images]

President-elect Donald Trump’s incoming administration plans to lift sanctions imposed by the Biden administration last year on violent Israeli settlers, according to slid, Trump’s nominee for secretary of state.

As much of the world’s attention has focused on the war on Gaza, growing violence by Israeli settlers against Palestinians in the West Bank and land grabs in the occupied territory have raised concern among some of Israel’s Western allies.

Washington and others have imposed asset freezes and banking restrictions on violent settlers, outposts and groups and urged Israel to do more to stop attacks that they say undermine efforts to end the conflict.

During a Senate Foreign Relations Committee confirmation hearing, Rubio pledged to reverse the policy, emphasising the administration’s pro-Israel stance, reported the Times of Israel. However, he did not specify when the sanctions would be lifted.

“Yes. Without speaking out of turn, I’m confident in saying that President Trump’s administration will continue to be perhaps the most pro-Israel administration in American history,” Rubio stated, confirming plans to roll back sanctions on settlers.

READ: American-Israelis sanctioned for violence in West Bank sue Biden administration

Rubio also said he supported revoking the visas of anyone supporting Hamas and to expand the Trump-era Abraham Accords.

The sanctions were imposed under an executive order on West Bank violence that President Joe Biden signed in February. It has been used to impose sanctions on a Palestinian resistance group as well as Jewish settlers and those supporting them.

The executive order, being a presidential measure, can be reversed by a future administration. Incoming President Donald Trump, who takes office on 20 January, has indicated a more favourable stance on the illegal West Bank settlements, similar to his policy during his first term.

Israeli settler violence against Palestinians in the occupied West Bank, including East Jerusalem, escalated to unprecedented levels in 2024, the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) has said.