Netanyahu: "Surrendering to Hamas' demands will not lead to the release of the abductees - but to another massacre"
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu protested yesterday (Sunday) to United States President Joe Biden, during their telephone conversation, about the presidential order that allowed the imposition of new sanctions on settlers who were involved in attacks against Palestinians in the West Bank - according to an Israeli senior official and a source privy to the details of the conversation.
why is it important:
Netanyahu's previously unpublished complaint to Biden is another sign that, after a relatively mild initial reaction, the Israeli government has internalized the potentially unprecedented consequences of the presidential order for the entire Israeli settlement enterprise in the West Bank.
The government internalized the consequences of the order for the settlements.
Benjamin Netanyahu/official website, Mark Israel Salem
Quick reminder:
The order issued by Biden two weeks ago is the most significant move by any American administration ever against settler violence against Palestinians in the West Bank and it signals that the White House believes that the Netanyahu government is not taking American requests seriously on this issue.
Under the order, new American sanctions were imposed against four settlers who carried out attacks against Palestinians and it paves the way for additional sanctions to be imposed in the future also against elected officials and senior Israeli government officials.
Following the American sanctions, the Israeli bank accounts of the four settlers were frozen.
Finance Minister Smotrich attacked the move and ordered the supervisor of the banks to examine ways to circumvent the American sanctions - for which he exposed himself to sanctions.
He also exposed himself to sanctions.
Smotrich/Image processing, Spokesperson of the Ministry of Finance
Behind the Scenes:
During the phone call with Biden, Netanyahu raised the issue of the new decree against violence by settlers, criticizing it and emphasizing that he does not understand why the president made this decision, according to the two sources.
Netanyahu told Biden that the Israeli government has taken steps to address violence by extremist settlers against Palestinians and has even issued administrative arrest warrants against some of those involved in the attacks.
The sources stated that Netanyahu said during the conversation that the president's advisors know very well that there has been a decrease in the number of attacks by settlers against Palestinians because of the steps taken by the government.
The prime minister said that he does not understand why precisely when this is the case, the administration decided to issue a sweeping order of this type, the sources stated.
Netanyahu told Biden that he had asked the Minister of Strategic Affairs Ron Dermer to prepare a list of questions regarding the presidential order and its implications on which Israel would like clarification.
There was no response from the Prime Minister's Office or the White House.
The most significant move by any American administration against settler violence.
Biden/Image manipulation, Reuters
The situation:
Today the British government also announced that it is imposing new sanctions against four settlers who were involved in violent attacks on Palestinians in the West Bank.
"Extreme Israeli settlers threaten Palestinians, often at gunpoint, and force them to leave their land. This behavior is illegal and unacceptable," said British Foreign Secretary David Cameron.
Cameron pointed out that Israel needs to take more determined actions to stop settler violence and emphasized that too often the Israeli government does not meet the commitments it makes to deal with the issue.
More on the same topic:
Settlers
Benjamin Netanyahu
Joe Biden
United States