The U.S. has imposed sanctions on organizations and firms involved in illegal settlement development in the occupied West Bank. Amana, the largest organization involved in illegal settlement development in the West Bank, and its subsidiary Binyanei Bar Amana Ltd. have been sanctioned. Amana is a major funder and supporter of unauthorized settlements in the Israeli-occupied West Bank, with assets valued at around $160 million. It has underwritten loans, signed contracts, and funded infrastructure projects for new settlements, contributing to violence and displacement of Palestinians.
Diplomatic sanctions were imposed on Eyal Hari Yehuda Co., which provides construction logistics to sanctioned groups, and its owner Itamar Yehuda Levi. Additionally, sanctions were placed on Shabtai Koshlevsky, co-founder of the nonprofit group Hashomer Yosh, and Israeli citizen Zohar Sabah for perpetrating violence on Palestinians.
The penalties aim to hold accountable those facilitating destabilizing activities in the West Bank. The sanctions deny access to property or financial assets held in the U.S. and prohibit U.S. companies and citizens from doing business with the sanctioned entities.
President Joe Biden's executive order targets Israeli settlers accused of attacking Palestinians and Israeli peace activists in the West Bank, justifying the financial penalties. In response, lawsuits have been filed against the Biden administration over the sanctions.
Violence against Palestinians and their displacement have increased since the Israel-Hamas war began in October 2023. Settlement growth and construction have been promoted by successive Israeli governments, with over 100 settlements and 500,000 Israeli settlers now in the West Bank, dimming hopes for a two-state solution.
The State Department calls on the Government of Israel to take action and hold accountable those responsible for violence, forced displacement, and dispossession of private land. The U.S. will continue to promote accountability for those destabilizing conditions in the West Bank and supporting extremist violence in the region.
