US Sanctions Israeli Settlers Over West Bank Violence

US Sanctions Israeli Settlers Over West Bank Violence
Image copyright: Andrew Lichtenstein/Corbis News via Getty Images

The Spin

Pro-establishment narrative

The actions of extremist Israelis in the occupied West Bank are essentially pouring gasoline on the already volatile situation in the Middle East. These sanctions are part of an American effort to diffuse tensions in the region and hopefully prevent the excess violence against Palestinians. Israeli settlers who commit violence against innocent Palestinians must be held accountable and punished for their actions.

Pro-Israel narrative

The rhetoric of so-called "settler violence" in Israel is part of an anti-Semitic smear campaign meant to change the narrative around the heinous attack on Oct. 7 and paint Israel as a villain. The majority of settlers in the West Bank are law-abiding citizens and those who act unlawfully are prosecuted by Israel itself, so these sanctions are unnecessarily punitive. In fact, the Israeli settlers in the West Bank are the ones who experience a great deal of hostilities bravely.

Pro-Palestine narrative

These sanctions are meaningless and just a political ploy by Biden to win the support of voters who are angry with him for supporting Israel. Why not condemn the violence against Palestinian civilians in Gaza and freeze military aid and arms sales to Israel if he is serious? Tens of thousands of innocent Palestinians have been killed and injured by Israeli violence in Gaza.

Metaculus Prediction


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