Senior US treasury official stresses importance of settler sanctions in call with Bank of Israel governor

In a meeting earlier today with Bank of Israel Governor Amir Yaron in New York, US Deputy Treasury Secretary Wally Adeyemo stressed the importance of preventing terrorists and violent extremists from raising, using, and moving funds,” a US readout says, apparently referring to the sanctions that the Biden administration has been implementing to combat settler violence in the West Bank.

“Adeyemo stressed that an economically stable West Bank strengthens Israel’s own security,” the readout says.

Apparently referring to Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, the deputy treasury secretary also raised concerns “about threats by some within the Israeli government to sever correspondent banking relationships between Israeli and Palestinian banks and insisted that these should be extended for at least a year.”

“Extending these relations is critical to preventing an economic crisis in the West Bank and to strengthening Israel’s security by countering financial flows funding terror groups,” the US readout says.