US weighs sanctions on Israeli army units over West Bank settler violence

Washington is considering penalties on Israeli military units and limits on the use of U.S.-made weapons in parts of the West Bank, Israel’s Haaretz newspaper reported.

The Biden-era debate over penalizing Israeli military units is back on the table: the United States is weighing sanctions on Israel over rising settler violence against Palestinians in the occupied West Bank, Israel’s Haaretz newspaper reported, citing sources.

Measures under consideration include sanctions on Israel Defense Forces units involved in harming Palestinians and a possible ban on the use of U.S.-made weapons by certain units or in specific sectors, according to the report.

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Haaretz said Israel’s defense establishment had recently received an unusually sharp warning from Washington. Senior U.S. officials are said to be monitoring the situation closely and are increasingly concerned about the apparent involvement of Israeli authorities in the attacks, or their failure to act.

The report comes as clashes between settlers and Palestinians are reported in several West Bank villages during the olive harvest season. In 2024, the United States also considered sanctioning an Israeli army battalion over abuses but ultimately did not impose them.