Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich is seeking to prevent Israeli banks from complying with US sanctions against allegedly violent Israeli settlers, Channel 12 reports.
Bank Leumi earlier froze the account of one of the four sanctioned individuals — fearing American legal repercussions if it continues to service him.
The report says that Smotrich contacted the Bank of Israel today and asked the supervisor of the banks to issue a clarification that Israeli law does not oblige banks to freeze sanctioned individuals’ accounts.
Smotrich is quoted as saying it was “unthinkable” that an Israeli bank should take action against an Israeli citizen over a US decision.
“I will take action as the finance minister and do what I must,” he reportedly said, adding that, “if need be, we’ll advance legislation on the matter.”
A banking source tells the network the US could sanction banks who continue to serve sanctioned individuals.
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