Democrats call for Biden to sanction 'radical' Israeli government ministers

Democrats in the House and Senate are calling on President Biden to sanction two controversial Israeli ministers, saying the two men have promoted violence against Palestinians and are pushing for annexation of territory that undermines U.S. efforts to support a two-state solution.

In a letter sent late last month but released publicly on Thursday, 88 lawmakers called on Biden to issue sanctions against Israeis Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich and National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, far-right members of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s governing coalition.

“With radical officials in the Netanyahu government continuing to enable settler violence and enact annexationist policies, it is clear that further sanctions are urgently needed,” the lawmakers wrote.

“The key individuals and entities that are destabilizing the West Bank — thereby also threatening the security of Israel and the broader region, and U.S. national security as well — should be directly held accountable. The message that such actions are unacceptable from leaders, including within the Israeli government, must be heard.”

The sanctions would fall under an executive order Biden issued in February to address increasing violence by Israeli settlers in the West Bank against Palestinians and has been used to target individuals and groups.

The Biden administration has reportedly considered using the sanctions authority against the two Israeli ministers, but has held back a move considered unprecedented in punishing a major U.S. ally.

The letter, initially sent to Biden privately, signals the frustration among Democrats over the president’s holding back consequences on Israel over the suffering of Palestinians in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip, with Israel's war against Hamas now in its second year following the Hamas attacks of Oct. 7, 2023.

The incoming Trump administration would likely revoke the sanctions and cancel Biden’s executive order.

But such an action is not isolated. British Prime Minister Keir Starmer said last month his government was looking into sanctioning the two Israeli ministers reportedly following comments by Ben-Gvir defending settlers perpetrating violence against Palestinians in the West Bank; Smotrich also suggested that starving civilians in Gaza might be justified.