Netanyahu reportedly raised his objection to settler sanctions in call with Biden

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu reportedly raised his objection to US sanctions that were slapped on violent settlers earlier this month, during his call yesterday with US President Joe Biden.

Netanyahu tried to argue that the number incidents of settler violence has dropped of late and that the government had taken a number of steps to crack down on the phenomenon, Axios reports. The premier pointed to a number of administrative detentions that the IDF has recently issued, though that tool has been used in the past.

Netanyahu also tasked Strategic Affairs Minister Ron Dermer to prepare a list of questions that Israel wants clarified from the US regarding the implications of the executive order allowing the sanctions, given that it lays the groundwork for the targeting of Israeli officials and for cutting off the entire settler movement from the US financial system.

Netanyahu already criticized the order publicly, calling it “inappropriate” and “highly problematic.”

Meanwhile, incidents of settler violence have continued unabated, including earlier today.