Israel said worried that US could sanction IDF troops over West Bank violence

The Kan public broadcaster reports on an internal Foreign Ministry report that was compiled after the US announced sanctions against perpetrators of settler violence in the West Bank.

The report states that the US repeatedly warned Israel about the lack of prosecution against perpetrators of settler violence and that Jerusalem’s responses did not satisfy Washington.

It says that in recent weeks, the US requested explanations over a series of incidents in which Palestinians were wrongfully targeted by both settlers as well as IDF soldiers. The request also included the names of suspects implicated in the instances.

The Foreign Ministry report states that if a satisfactory response to the US queries is not issued within 60 days, Washington could hand down sanctions against those implicated.

The report says that a large number of soldiers are at risk of entanglement.

The government will be holding an interagency meeting next week to discuss Israel’s response to the sanctions, Kan says.

Last week, Israel Hayom reported that the Biden administration is reportedly demanding that Israel provide explanations regarding a series of allegations that IDF troops used American-provided weapons to carry out human rights violations in the West Bank.