Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich has commended former U.S. President Donald Trump for reversing sanctions imposed by the Biden administration on Israeli settler groups and individuals accused of engaging in violence against Palestinians in the occupied West Bank.
Smotrich, a staunch supporter of the settler movement, called Trump’s decision an “expression of your deep connection to the Jewish people and our historical right to our land.” The move marks a significant policy shift from the Biden administration, which had sanctioned multiple settler entities, freezing their U.S. assets and restricting American dealings with them.
The Israeli minister criticized the Biden-era sanctions as “a severe act of foreign interference in the internal affairs of the State of Israel,” adding that the measures undermined democratic principles and the longstanding alliance between the two nations.
Smotrich expressed optimism about the future of U.S.-Israel relations under Trump’s administration. “We look forward to continued fruitful cooperation to strengthen our national security, expand settlements across all parts of the Land of Israel, and bolster Israel’s position on the global stage,” he said.
The Biden administration’s sanctions had aimed to hold extremist settlers accountable for actions that Washington argued hindered the prospect of a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. The U.S. had repeatedly urged the Israeli government to address settler violence, which it viewed as a significant obstacle to peace negotiations.
Since the 1967 Middle East war, Israel has maintained control over the West Bank, a territory Palestinians envision as the centerpiece of an independent state. Successive Israeli governments have expanded Jewish settlements in the area, a practice widely considered illegal under international law. Israel disputes this view, citing historical and biblical connections to the land.
Trump’s decision to lift sanctions has drawn mixed reactions internationally. Critics argue that it undermines efforts to hold settlers accountable for violence and deepens the challenges of achieving a peaceful resolution to the conflict. Supporters, including members of Israel’s pro-settlement camp, see it as a reaffirmation of Israel’s sovereignty over disputed territories.
The development highlights the ongoing complexity of U.S. foreign policy in the region and its impact on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. As the Trump administration takes steps to align more closely with Israel’s right-wing factions, the prospects for a negotiated settlement between Israelis and Palestinians remain uncertain.
