New sanctions from Ottawa against extremist Israeli settlers

Photo: Spencer Colby The Canadian Press The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mélanie Joly, pointed out “the harmful effect that this violence has on the prospects for lasting peace”.

Marc-Antoine Franco Rey

Posted at 5:44 p.m. Updated at 8:47 p.m.

• Canada

Canada on Thursday imposed a series of additional sanctions targeting individuals and entities involved in acts of violence committed by extremist Israeli settlers against Palestinians in the West Bank.

The sanctions target seven individuals and five organizations “for their role in facilitating, supporting or financially contributing to acts of violence committed by extremist Israeli settlers against members of the Palestinian civilian population and their property,” Global Affairs Canada said in a statement.

The seven individuals targeted are Ben Zion Gopstein, Daniella Weiss, Einan Ben-Nir Amram Tanjil, Elisha Yered, Ely Federman, Meir Mordechai Ettinger and Shalom Zicherman. The entities are Amana, Hilltop Youth, Lehava, Moshe’s Farm and Zvi’s Farm.

The Special Economic Measures Against Settler Violence Regulations impose a ban on transactions with listed individuals and entities, and freeze any assets they may have in Canada. These individuals are also inadmissible to Canada.

Extremist settlers are notably responsible for loss of life and damage to Palestinian agricultural land and property, continues Global Affairs Canada. This violence has also contributed to the forced displacement of Palestinians, which aggravates the insecurity of their population in the West Bank.

The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mélanie Joly, pointed out “the harmful effect that this violence has on the prospects for lasting peace.” According to Global Affairs Canada, these attacks constitute a violation of human rights and undermine the possibility of a two-state solution, in addition to posing security risks to the region.

Second wave of Canadian sanctions

Ottawa is therefore sanctioning Israeli settlers present in the West Bank for a second time. Four were targeted last May under the Special Economic Measures Act, which was a first for Justin Trudeau's government. These individuals were already subject to American or British sanctions.

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Violence in the West Bank has only intensified since the start of the war between Israel and Hamas in the Gaza Strip, triggered by the Palestinian movement’s attack on Israel on October 7, 2023.

According to Palestinian authorities, 553 Palestinians have been killed since then by the Israeli army or settlers in this Palestinian territory, which has been occupied by Israel since 1967 and whose permanent control by that country is not recognized by Canada.

With Agence France-Presse