A Palestinian woman waiting to cross Qalandia checkpoint between West Bank and Jerusalem, to attend the first Friday prayer of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan in Al Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem’s old city, 24 March 2023. Women of all ages, children up to the age of 12, and men older than 55 from the West Bank will be allowed to enter Jerusalem to attend Friday prayers at Al-Aqsa Mosque without existing permissions, Israeli military announced. EPA-EFE/ATEF SAFADI A new State Department visa restriction policy targets "individuals believed to have been involved in undermining peace, security, or stability in the West Bank, including through committing acts of violence or taking other actions that unduly restrict civilians’ access to essential services and basic necessities," Secretary of State Antony Blinken said in a statement.
President Joe Biden and other senior US officials have warned repeatedly that Israel must act to stop violence by Israeli settlers against Palestinians in the West Bank. Attacks there have surged in recent months as Jewish settlements have expanded, and then spiked again since the October 7 Hamas attacks on Israel.
Blinken made clear to Israeli officials during a visit last week that "they need to do more to stop extremist violence against Palestinians, and hold those responsible for it accountable," State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller told reporters in a press briefing after the announcement.
Palestinian leaders must also do more to curb Palestinian attacks against Israelis in the West Bank, he added.
The first bans under the new policy would be imposed on Tuesday and more designations will be made in the coming days, Miller said.
"We expect ultimately for this action to impact dozens of individuals and potentially their family members," Miller said, adding that any Israeli with an existing US visa who was targeted would be notified that their visa was revoked.
Since a 1967 Middle East war, Israel has occupied the West Bank, which Palestinians want as the core of an independent state. It has built Jewish settlements there that most countries deem illegal. Israel disputes this and cites historical and biblical ties to the land.
Asked about settler violence in a news conference on Tuesday, Israel's Defense Minister Yoav Gallant said no one besides Israeli authorities had the right use violence.
"Israel is a state of law. The right to use violence belongs only to those who are certified to do so by the government," he said.
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Miller said Israel had taken some steps to hold people responsible for the West Bank violence, like putting them in administrative detention, but US officials believe they should be prosecuted.
Washington's move on Tuesday "does not obviate the need for the government of Israel to take its own actions and we will continue to be clear with them about it," he said.
(Reporting by Simon Lewis and Daphne Psaledakis; additional reporting by Humeyra Pamuk, Emily Rose and Rami Ayyub; Editing by Doina Chiacu, Franklin Paul and David Gregorio)