Biden sanctions Israeli settlers accused of attacking Palestinians and peace activists in West Bank

By COLLEEN LONG, ZEKE MILLER and AAMER MADHANI
Associated Press

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden has issued an executive order that targets Israeli settlers in the West Bank who’ve been accused of attacking Palestinians and Israeli peace activists in the occupied territory. The order Thursday imposes financial sanctions and visa bans in an initial round against four individuals. The order says those settlers were involved in acts of violence, as well as threats and attempts to destroy or seize Palestinian property. The penalties aim to block the four from using the U.S. financial system and bar American citizens from dealing with them. U.S. officials are evaluating whether to punish others involved in attacks that have intensified during the Israel-Hamas war. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu denounced the U.S. penalties.