SEAToday.com, Washington-The United States on Thursday (1/2) imposed sanctions on four Israeli settlers who committed violence in the Palestinian West Bank. In an executive order, US President Joe Biden emphasized that such violence cannot be tolerated.

The sanctions were imposed because the four Israelis, David Chai Chasdai, Einan Tanjil, Shalom Zicherman, and Yinon Levi, were found to have committed acts of violence or intimidation against Palestinians in the West Bank. The sanctions range from imposing financial sanctions and visa bans.

The sanctions mark an unusual move by the U.S. government to target Israelis and come after President Biden traveled to Michigan, where a significant number of Arab Americans expressed outrage at his support for Israel. The Arab American Institute, an advocacy group, earlier said that since the start of the conflict, support by Arab Americans for the Democratic Party has plummeted from 59% in 2020 to just 17%.

In response, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the U.S. sanctions were unnecessary. He also said that the "majority" of Israeli settlers in the West Bank are "law-abiding citizens. "Israel takes action against all law-breakers everywhere, and therefore there is no need for unusual measures on the issue," a statement from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office said.

The two leaders are long-term allies but have disagreed in recent weeks about the idea of creating an independent Palestinian state. The US believes a Palestinian state alongside Israel - known as a "two-state solution" - is vital for long-term stability in the region.

But, Netanyahu has repeatedly rejected the idea, and the White House acknowledged last month that the US and Israeli governments "clearly see things differently". (DAN/DKD)