US Sanctions Israeli Organization, Others for Ties to West Bank Violence

The U.S. this week sanctioned three entities and several people for their ties to violence in the West Bank or for undermining peace in the region, including an organization that aids Israelis previously designated by the U.S.

The Office of Foreign Assets Control said Amana the Settlement Movement of Gush Emunim Central Cooperative Association Ltd has been a “key part” of the Israeli “extremist settlement movement,” including by helping to form Meitarim Farm, which the agency sanctioned in July for ties to violence or threats of violence against Palestinians (see 2407110018). OFAC also sanctioned Amana’s subsidiary, Binyanei Bar Amana Ltd, a construction and development company that builds and sells homes in West Bank settlements.

New General License No. 1 authorizes certain wind-down transactions with Amana, Binyanei Bar Amana and any entity they own by 50% or more. Those transactions are authorized through 12:01 a.m. EST Jan. 10 as long as any payment to a blocked party is made into a “blocked interest-bearing account” and reported to OFAC.

The State Department also sanctioned three Israelis living in the West Bank and one West Bank entity for violence against Palestinians or for destroying or the "dispossession" of their property. One designation targets Eyal Hari Yehuda Company LTD, and owner Itamar Yehuda Levi. The company supplies pickup trucks and SUVs that have been used in "construction activities" by Israelis in the West Bank to expand the "physical boundaries of sanctioned entities," including Meitarim Farm.

Also targeted was Shabtai Koshlevsky, co-founder of U.S.-designated nonprofit Hashomer Yosh (see 2408280023), and Zohar Sabah, who has "engaged in threats and acts of violence against Palestinians."