UK imposes new sanctions on extremists for violence in the West Bank
Lord Cameron said:'Extremist settlers are undermining security and stability and threatening prospects for peace.'
Lee Harpin is the Jewish News's political editor
Lord Cameron has announced new sanctions on extremist Israeli groups including the infamous Hilltop Youth, and on four individuals for violence in the West Bank.
In a move announced on Friday the foreign secretary said the government was targeting two groups “known to have supported, incited and promoted violence against Palestinian communities in the West Bank, as well as four individuals responsible for perpetrating human rights abuses against these communities”.
Hardline nationalist Israeli youth group the Hilltop Youth has established illegal settler outposts across the West Bank with the stated mission of expelling all Palestinians.
The organisation Lehava is also sanctioned for “facilitating, inciting, and promoting violence against Arab and Palestinian communities.”
Lord Cameron said:”Extremist settlers are undermining security and stability and threatening prospects for peace.
“This latest package of sanctions targets two groups leading these attacks, and four individuals who are directly responsible for egregious violence against Palestinian civilians.
“The Israeli authorities must clamp down on those responsible. The UK will not hesitate to take further action if needed, including through further sanctions.”
The four individuals also sanctioned for “egregious human rights abuses against Palestinian communities” were named as Noam Federman: “a radical settler activist and former leader and spokesperson of the now-defunct Kach party, that espoused overtly racist and violent policies. “He has trained settler groups to commit acts of violence against Palestinians and how to avoid repercussions from the Israeli state.
Neria Ben Pazi who is said to be “responsible for illegally constructing three illegal outposts between 2015 and 2023 and has supported and participated in acts of violence and displacement of Bedouin and Palestinian communities in the West Bank.”
Eden Levi who”has been documented on multiple occasions as taking part in assaults and intimidation of Palestinians, as part of a wider intimidation campaign aiming to drive their population out of the area. ”
As recently as 12 October 2023, Levi was involved in an incident during which Palestinian villagers were beaten and sexually assaulted, the government said.
And Elisha Yered, said to be an unofficial spokesperson for Hilltop Youth.
“He has a history of making inflammatory statements inciting religious hatred and violence, including justifying the killing of Palestinians on religious grounds, and calling for the takeover of Palestinian land and the expulsion of Palestinians from the West Bank,” the UK government said.
“Today’s measures impose financial restrictions on the entities and individuals, and travel restrictions on the individuals.”
Thank you for helping to make Jewish News the leading source of news and opinion for the UK Jewish community. Today we're asking for your invaluable help to continue putting our community first in everything we do.
For as little as £5 a month you can help sustain the vital work we do in celebrating and standing up for Jewish life in Britain.
Jewish News holds our community together and keeps us connected. Like a synagogue, it’s where people turn to feel part of something bigger. It also proudly shows the rest of Britain the vibrancy and rich culture of modern Jewish life.
You can make a quick and easy one-off or monthly contribution of £5, £10, £20 or any other sum you’re comfortable with.
100% of your donation will help us continue celebrating our community, in all its dynamic diversity...
Engaging
Being a community platform means so much more than producing a newspaper and website. One of our proudest roles is media partnering with our invaluable charities to amplify the outstanding work they do to help us all.
Celebrating
There’s no shortage of oys in the world but Jewish News takes every opportunity to celebrate the joys too, through projects like Night of Heroes, 40 Under 40 and other compelling countdowns that make the community kvell with pride.
Pioneering
In the first collaboration between media outlets from different faiths, Jewish News worked with British Muslim TV and Church Times to produce a list of young activists leading the way on interfaith understanding.
Campaigning
Royal Mail issued a stamp honouring Holocaust hero Sir Nicholas Winton after a Jewish News campaign attracted more than 100,000 backers. Jewish Newsalso produces special editions of the paper highlighting pressing issues including mental health and Holocaust remembrance.
Easy access
In an age when news is readily accessible, Jewish News provides high-quality content free online and offline, removing any financial barriers to connecting people.
Voice of our community to wider society
The Jewish News team regularly appears on TV, radio and on the pages of the national press to comment on stories about the Jewish community. Easy access to the paper on the streets of London also means Jewish News provides an invaluable window into the community for the country at large.
We hope you agree all this is worth preserving.
