The United States imposed sanctions on Monday on a group of Israeli settlers accused of aiding of violence in the occupied West Bank, where there has been an increase in settler attacks against Palestinians, reported "Reuters", quoted by News.bg.
Settler group **Amana** has been described as "a key part of Israel's extremist settler movement" and has ties to individuals already sanctioned by the US government and its partners for committing violence in the West Bank, the Treasury Department said in a statement announcing the sanctions.
The sanctions also cover a subsidiary of **Amana** called **Binyanei Bar Amana**, described as a company that builds and sells homes in Israeli settlements and settlement posts.
The sanctions block Americans from any transactions with Amana and freeze its US assets. The United Kingdom and Canada have also imposed sanctions on Amana.
Context of Israeli settlements
Israel began settlements in the West Bank after its capture in the 1967 Middle East war. Palestinians say the settlements undermine prospects for an independent Palestinian state in the West Bank and Gaza Strip with East Jerusalem as its capital.
Israel considers the West Bank part of biblical Judea and Samaria, and settlers often refer to their historical ties to the land.
Settler violence has been on the rise since before the Gaza war broke out and has further escalated since the conflict began more than a year ago.
Most countries consider Israeli settlements illegal under international law, a position Israel disputes, portraying the territory as strategically important for security. In 2019, the Donald Trump administration abandoned the long-standing US position that the settlements were illegal, but it was reinstated by President Joe Biden.
International reaction
The International Court of Justice in The Hague ruled that Israeli settlements in the occupied Palestinian territories are illegal and called on all countries to cooperate in ending the conflict. While the court's opinion is not binding, it carries weight in international law and could weaken support for Israel.
Last week, nearly 90 US lawmakers called on President Biden to impose sanctions on members of the Israeli government led by Benjamin Netanyahu over anti-Palestinian violence in the West Bank.