US issues new sanctions on entities backing extremist settlers in the West Bank News
Ralf Roletschek, GFDL 1.2, via Wikimedia Commons
US issues new sanctions on entities backing extremist settlers in the West Bank

The Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) imposed new sanctions Friday on multiple entities that back extremist settlers in the West Bank, including the Mount Hebron Fund and Shlom Asiraich.

These sanctions were a response to both the Mount Hebron Fund and Asiraich’s involvement in fundraising campaigns for violent extremists Yinon Levi and David Chai Chasdai, both of whom had been sanctioned earlier in February for their roles in violent activities in the West Bank.

The OFAC stated that it would “continue to use our tools to hold those responsible [for violent West Bank settler attacks] accountable.” The OFAC went on to state that the actions of the Mount Hebron Fund and Asiraich were complicit in supporting individuals previously sanctioned by the Biden administration.

According to OFAC, the fundraising efforts by the Mount Hebron Fund and Asiraich raised substantial amounts of money, $140,000 and $31,000, respectively. Additionally, Ben-Zion Gopstein, the founder of Lehava, an organization linked to violent actions in the West Bank, was also designated by the Department of State.

These sanctions block access to any property or interests held by the designated entities within the US or under US control. Financial institutions and individuals engaging in transactions with these entities could face sanctions or enforcement actions.

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