Canada on Thursday imposed a series of additional sanctions targeting individuals and entities involved in violence by extremist Israeli settlers against Palestinians in the West Bank.
These sanctions target seven individuals and five organizations “for their role in facilitating, supporting or financially contributing to acts of violence committed by extremist Israeli settlers against members of the Palestinian civilian population and their property,” Global Affairs Canada said in a press release.
The seven people targeted are Ben Zion Gopstein, Daniella Weiss, Einan Ben-Nir Amram Tanjil, Elisha Yered, Ely Federman, Meir Mordechai Ettinger and Shalom Zicherman. The entities are Amana, Hilltop Youth, Lehava, Moshe’s Farm and Zvi’s Farm.
The Special Economic Measures Against Settler Violence Regulations impose a ban on transactions with listed individuals and entities, and freeze any assets they may have in Canada. These individuals are also inadmissible to Canada.
Extremist settlers are responsible for the loss of life and damage to Palestinian farmland and property, Global Affairs Canada continues. This violence has also contributed to the forced displacement of Palestinians, which exacerbates the insecurity of their population in the West Bank.
Foreign Affairs Minister Mélanie Joly pointed out “the harmful impact that this violence has on the prospects for lasting peace.” According to Global Affairs Canada, these attacks constitute an attack on human rights and undermine the possibility of a two-state solution, in addition to posing security risks in the region.
Second wave of Canadian sanctions
Ottawa is therefore sanctioning Israeli settlers present in the West Bank for a second time. Four were targeted last May under the Special Economic Measures Act, which was a first for Justin Trudeau’s government. These individuals were already subject to American or British sanctions.
Violence in the West Bank has only intensified since the start of the war between Israel and Hamas in the Gaza Strip, triggered by the Palestinian movement’s attack on Israel on October 7, 2023.
According to Palestinian authorities, 553 Palestinians have been killed since then by the Israeli army or settlers in this Palestinian territory, which has been occupied since 1967 by Israel and whose permanent control by that country is not recognized by Canada.
With Agence France-Presse