by Israel National News
US President Joe Biden has ordered his administration to prepare to deny visas to Israelis involved in violence against Palestinians.
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| U.S. Visa iStock |
Politico reports that US President Joe Biden directed officials in his administration to prepare visa bans and sanctions for Israelis who attack Palestinian Arabs.
A memo to aides like Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen on Friday, orders their agencies “to develop policy options for expeditious action against those responsible for the conduct of violence in the West Bank.”
Parts of the memo became known after President Biden’s op-ed in The Washington Post revealing his intentions for such a move. “The United States is prepared to take our own steps, including issuing visa bans against extremists attacking civilians in the West Bank,” he wrote in the op-ed.
The Biden administration has defended Israel's operation in Gaza, but has also pushed for Israel to take a stronger stance against Israeli civilians attacking Palestinians. Recently, some of Biden's party have called.for restrictions or conditions on US aid to Israel.
The targets for reprimands are broadly defined in the memo. They include people or entities that “have directly or indirectly engaged in actions or policies that threaten the security or stability of the West Bank,” take “actions that intimidate civilians in the West Bank with the purpose or effect of forcing displacement actions in the West Bank,” or make moves “that constitute human rights abuses or violations and actions that significantly obstruct, disrupt or prevent efforts to achieve a two-state solution.”
The memo notes that the administration views these attacks as a serious issue liable to destabilize the Middle East as a whole. It was issued after intense debate among President Biden's cabinet.
President Biden commented on the attacks on Palestinians: “I continue to be alarmed about extremist settlers attacking Palestinians in the West Bank. They’re attacking Palestinians in places that they’re entitled to be, and it has to stop. They have to be held accountable.”
Israel National News
Source: https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/380554
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