Secretary of State Antony Blinken announced the new policy on Tuesday. The travel ban applies to unidentified Israeli settlers deemed extremists by the US government. Blinken said banned West Bank settlers are believed to have “engaged in undermining the peace, security, and stability of the West Bank.” He said this could include settlers who have committed acts of violence in the West Bank or who have unduly restricted civilians’ access to basic necessities. . State Department spokesman Matthew Miller said Tuesday that the policy will affect dozens of individuals and their families. He said affected individuals who currently hold visas to enter the United States will be notified that their visas have been revoked.
Does this policy only target Israeli settlers in the West Bank? Although Miller focused primarily on Israeli settlers who have been involved in recent attacks against Palestinians, the travel ban will also apply to Palestinians who have been involved in attacks against Israelis in the West Bank. . The U.S. government firmly supports Israel’s right to defend itself following the October 7 attack by the terrorist organization Hamas.
Dig deeper: Hear former National Security Council member William Imboden explain Hamas’s “modus operandi” on The World and Everything in It.