The U.S. Treasury Department announced on Friday that all sanctions imposed on Israeli settlers involved in violent attacks against Palestinians in the occupied West Bank and against organizations involved in the building of illegal West Bank outposts have been lifted and all frozen assets released.
Why it matters: The lifting of the sanctions is a victory for the "settlements lobby" in Israel and in the U.S., which pushed for this move after President Trump was elected.
Driving the news: On Monday, Trump revoked former President Biden's executive order enabling sanctions on Israeli settlers involved in violent attacks against Palestinians, or on entities that support them.
- In the year after Biden imposed the order, the State Department and the Department of Treasury imposed sanctions on dozens of settlers and organizations.
Yes, but: The U.S. move will not lead to the lifting of similar sanctions against Israeli settlers imposed by the European Union, Canada, the U.K., Australia and other countries.
Behind the scenes: A Trump administration official told Axios the Israelis lobbied Trump's team during the transition to lift the sanctions once he assumed office.
- "It was very important for the Israeli government," the official said.
- Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) and other U.S. lawmakers also lobbied for this move.
State of play: In recent days there has been another surge in attacks by settlers against Palestinians in the West Bank.
- Last week, ahead of the Cabinet meeting to approve the Gaza hostage and ceasefire deal, Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz signed an order to release all Israeli settlers who were under administrative detention for allegedly committing and planning terror attacks against Palestinians.
- An Israeli security official who was alarmed by the decision told Axios Katz made it for domestic political considerations and without consultation with Israel's security agencies.
- Several days later, dozens of settlers conducted an attack in the Palestinian village of Funduk in the West Bank.