J Street welcomes the Biden Administration’s significant announcement of sanctions against the extremist settler organization Hashomer Yosh and the Yitzhar settlement’s civilian security coordinator Yitzhak Levi Filant. This marks the first time an Israeli civilian security official of a West Bank settlement has been sanctioned under President Biden’s February Executive Order.

“This is a significant step and sends a message to the Netanyahu government and its extremist ministers. It recognizes the active role some Israeli officials and security services are playing in supporting, encouraging and enabling settler violence. We cannot give them a free pass as they threaten Palestinian families, undermine Israel’s security, and violate our core Jewish values of peace, justice and equality,” said J Street President Jeremy Ben-Ami.

Just last week, Shin Bet chief Ronen Bar wrote to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu warning of the threat posed by violent settlers and politicians who encourage them, including National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir.

“I’m writing you this letter in pain and great fear, as a Jew, as an Israeli, and as a member of a security force,” Bar wrote, warning of the “indescribable damage” of this “terrorism” and the “secret sense of backing” extremists felt from police and supportive political leaders.

“There are members of Netanyahu’s own cabinet who are actively supporting these groups and even urging financial institutions to ignore US sanctions,” Ben-Ami said. “I would hope the administration is actively considering applying the sanctions to those extremist government ministers as well.”

Hashomer Yosh is an extremist organization that is displacing Palestinian families and farmers from their land as it seeks to cement Israeli control of the West Bank. As the White House noted today, Mr. Filant led a group of armed settlers in February to set up roadblocks and conduct patrols aimed at forcing Palestinians from their land.