Biden to issue order targeting Jewish settler violence in W.Bank

Attacks there have surged in recent months as Jewish settlements have expanded, and then spiked again since the Oct. 7 Hamas attacks on Israel. In December, the United States began imposing visa bans on people involved in violence in the Israeli-occupied West Bank.

U.S. President Joe Biden is expected to issue an executive order on Thursday targeting Jewish settlers who attack Palestinians in the occupied West Bank, a source familiar with the matter said.

The order was to be released on Thursday, the person told Reuters. The move comes after Biden and other senior U.S. officials have warned repeatedly that Israel must act to stop violence by Israeli settlers against Palestinians in the West Bank. Attacks there have surged in recent months as Jewish settlements have expanded, and then spiked again since the Oct. 7 Hamas attacks on Israel.

In December, the United States began imposing visa bans on people involved in violence in the Israeli-occupied West Bank. Since the 1967 Middle East war, Israel has occupied the West Bank of the Jordan River, which Palestinians want as the core of an independent state. It has built Jewish settlements there that most countries deem illegal. Israel disputes this and cites historical and biblical ties to the land.

Politico first reported the action, citing documents, a U.S. official and a congressional aide. The order was expected to include sanctions against the settlers, the news outlet reported.