Lord Cameron has announced new sanctions on extremist Israeli groups including the infamous Hilltop Youth, and on four individuals for violence in the West Bank.
In a move announced on Friday the foreign secretary said the government was targeting two groups “known to have supported, incited and promoted violence against Palestinian communities in the West Bank, as well as four individuals responsible for perpetrating human rights abuses against these communities”.
Hardline nationalist Israeli youth group the Hilltop Youth has established illegal settler outposts across the West Bank with the stated mission of expelling all Palestinians.
The organisation Lehava is also sanctioned for “facilitating, inciting, and promoting violence against Arab and Palestinian communities.”
Lord Cameron said:”Extremist settlers are undermining security and stability and threatening prospects for peace.
“This latest package of sanctions targets two groups leading these attacks, and four individuals who are directly responsible for egregious violence against Palestinian civilians.
“The Israeli authorities must clamp down on those responsible. The UK will not hesitate to take further action if needed, including through further sanctions.”
Lord Cameron
The four individuals also sanctioned for “egregious human rights abuses against Palestinian communities” were named as Noam Federman: “a radical settler activist and former leader and spokesperson of the now-defunct Kach party, that espoused overtly racist and violent policies. “He has trained settler groups to commit acts of violence against Palestinians and how to avoid repercussions from the Israeli state.
Neria Ben Pazi who is said to be “responsible for illegally constructing three illegal outposts between 2015 and 2023 and has supported and participated in acts of violence and displacement of Bedouin and Palestinian communities in the West Bank.”
Eden Levi who”has been documented on multiple occasions as taking part in assaults and intimidation of Palestinians, as part of a wider intimidation campaign aiming to drive their population out of the area. ”
As recently as 12 October 2023, Levi was involved in an incident during which Palestinian villagers were beaten and sexually assaulted, the government said.
And Elisha Yered, said to be an unofficial spokesperson for Hilltop Youth.
“He has a history of making inflammatory statements inciting religious hatred and violence, including justifying the killing of Palestinians on religious grounds, and calling for the takeover of Palestinian land and the expulsion of Palestinians from the West Bank,” the UK government said.
“Today’s measures impose financial restrictions on the entities and individuals, and travel restrictions on the individuals.”
