The Israeli Walla website revealed that the White House is considering imposing sanctions on two members of Benjamin Netanyahu's government, Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich and Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir.
According to the website, the National Security Council at the White House held a discussion on measures against settlements and the security situation in the occupied West Bank.
Among the measures being considered are imposing sanctions on organizations involved in construction in settlements and canceling the labeling of products as “Made in Israel.”
The American ambassador to Israel offered to open a dialogue with Smotrich until he changed his behavior.
The meeting of the Representatives Committee of the National Security Council at the White House, which was attended by representatives of all foreign policy, national security, and intelligence agencies of the US government, was a sign of the US government's frustration and anger with Israel and the Israeli government's policy of expanding settlements and weakening the Palestinian Authority.
This is expected to be one of the main topics that US President Joe Biden is expected to talk about in his scheduled meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at the White House next week, two senior US officials said.
The International Court of Justice stated in a fatwa published on Friday that Israel’s policies and actions in the West Bank and East Jerusalem amount to the annexation of large parts of the Palestinian territories.
Although the opinion is not binding, it is considered one of the most important decisions of the International Court since the beginning of the Israeli occupation in 1967.
Israeli officials are deeply concerned that Western countries, including the United States, will use the fatwa to impose sanctions on settlers, private entities operating in the settlements, and elements of the Israeli government itself.
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