US President Joe Biden meets with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, DC, on July 25, 2024. (Credit: Jim Watson/AFP)
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu voiced strong objections to White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan on Thursday regarding recent U.S. sanctions against Israeli settlers involved in violence against Palestinians in the West Bank, according to Israeli and U.S. officials, reported American News Website Axios.
Netanyahu’s ultranationalist coalition and settler allies are increasingly concerned about these sanctions and the growing international support for them. They have urged Netanyahu to press the Biden administration to lift the sanctions.
Axios added that the White House National Security Council recently discussed expanding sanctions, possibly targeting two hard-line Israeli Cabinet ministers. The Biden administration, frustrated by Israel's settlement expansion and its alignment with extremist groups, is using sanctions as leverage to influence Israeli policy.
“An Israeli official said Netanyahu forcefully protested the sanctions, stressed they were counterproductive and expressed concern about the possibility of U.S. sanctions against ultranationalist minsters Itamar Ben Gvir and Bezalel Smotrich,” wrote Axios.
During his visit to the White House, Netanyahu also raised the issue with Vice President Kamala Harris, who expressed concern about actions "undermining stability and security in the West Bank."
Despite Netanyahu’s protests, Sullivan indicated that U.S. policy on the sanctions would remain unchanged, Axios reported citing U.S. and Israeli officials.
