Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich has welcomed former US President Donald Trump’s decision to reverse sanctions imposed by the Biden administration on Israeli settler groups and individuals accused of violence against Palestinians in the occupied West Bank.
In a statement on Tuesday, Smotrich hailed the move as a demonstration of Trump’s “deep connection to the Jewish people and our historical right to our land.”
The Biden administration had previously imposed sanctions on several Israeli settler individuals and entities, freezing their US assets and prohibiting Americans from engaging with them. These measures were part of Washington’s efforts to urge Israel to hold extremist settlers accountable and foster conditions for a potential two-state solution between Israelis and Palestinians.
Smotrich criticized the sanctions as “a severe act of foreign interference in the internal affairs of the State of Israel,” claiming they undermined democratic principles and the strong relationship between the two nations. He expressed optimism for “continued fruitful cooperation to strengthen national security, expand settlement in all parts of the Land of Israel, and reinforce Israel’s position on the global stage.”
The reversal aligns with Trump’s pro-Israel stance, which has included recognizing Jerusalem as Israel’s capital and supporting Israeli sovereignty over the Golan Heights.
Israel has occupied the West Bank since the 1967 Middle East war, constructing settlements that are considered illegal under international law by most countries. Israel disputes this, citing historical and biblical connections to the land. Palestinians, meanwhile, view the West Bank as the heart of a future independent state.
Trump’s decision has drawn sharp contrasts with the Biden administration’s approach, which prioritized accountability and emphasized the need for a two-state solution to resolve the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
In a statement on Tuesday, Smotrich hailed the move as a demonstration of Trump’s “deep connection to the Jewish people and our historical right to our land.”
The Biden administration had previously imposed sanctions on several Israeli settler individuals and entities, freezing their US assets and prohibiting Americans from engaging with them. These measures were part of Washington’s efforts to urge Israel to hold extremist settlers accountable and foster conditions for a potential two-state solution between Israelis and Palestinians.
Smotrich criticized the sanctions as “a severe act of foreign interference in the internal affairs of the State of Israel,” claiming they undermined democratic principles and the strong relationship between the two nations. He expressed optimism for “continued fruitful cooperation to strengthen national security, expand settlement in all parts of the Land of Israel, and reinforce Israel’s position on the global stage.”
The reversal aligns with Trump’s pro-Israel stance, which has included recognizing Jerusalem as Israel’s capital and supporting Israeli sovereignty over the Golan Heights.
Israel has occupied the West Bank since the 1967 Middle East war, constructing settlements that are considered illegal under international law by most countries. Israel disputes this, citing historical and biblical connections to the land. Palestinians, meanwhile, view the West Bank as the heart of a future independent state.
Trump’s decision has drawn sharp contrasts with the Biden administration’s approach, which prioritized accountability and emphasized the need for a two-state solution to resolve the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
