UK sanctions Israeli ‘extremist groups’ over West Bank violence

The British government decided to impose sanctions against two Israeli “extremist groups” on Friday, alleging that the organizations “incited” and “perpetrated” settler violence against Palestinians in the West Bank.

The two sanctioned organizations include Hilltop Youth, “a hardline nationalist Israeli youth group” that is believed to have established “illegal” settler outposts across the West Bank with the goal of “expelling” Palestinians from the Occupied Territories and Lehava which is accused of “promoting violence” against Arab and Palestinian communities.

“The Israeli authorities must clamp down on those responsible. The UK will not hesitate to take further action if needed, including through further sanctions,” Foreign Secretary David Cameron said. Britain also sanctioned four individuals for “egregious human rights abuses” against Palestinians.