The US Department of State has decided to ban visas for settlers, Israelis involved in acts of violence against Palestinians in the West Bank, according to the warning announced by US President Joe Biden.

The US Department of State explained in a statement issued this morning, Wednesday, that the United States opposes actions that undermine stability in the West Bank, including attacks carried out by Israeli settlers against Palestinians or those carried out by Palestinians against Israelis.

Accountability for Israeli extremists

The US Department of State statement said: We have emphasized to the Israeli government the necessity of making more efforts to hold extremist settlers accountable who have committed violent attacks against Palestinians in the West Bank.

The ministry's statement confirmed that these attacks cannot be accepted, and President Biden has said so repeatedly, clarifying during his visit to Israel last week that the United States is ready to take necessary action using the authorities and powers available to us.

Visa ban for individuals committing acts of violence in the West Bank

The statement added that: The US Department of State is implementing today a new policy to ban visa issuance targeting individuals involved in undermining peace, security, and stability in the West Bank, including committing acts of violence or taking other measures that unjustifiably restrict civilians' access to essential services and necessities.

The US Department of State continued: Immediate family members of these individuals may also be subject to these restrictions, and Washington will continue to strive to hold accountable those responsible for all acts of violence against civilians in the West Bank, regardless of the identity of the perpetrator or the victim.

Additional measures to protect Palestinian civilians from extremist attacks and vice versa

We also continue to engage with both the Israeli leadership to clarify the necessity of taking additional measures to protect Palestinian civilians from extremists’ attacks and the Palestinian Authority to emphasize the need to take further measures to prevent Palestinian attacks against Israelis.

The Department of State’s statement pointed out that both Israel and the Palestinian Authority bear responsibility for maintaining stability in the West Bank, as instability there harms both the Israeli and Palestinian people, threatens Israeli national security interests, and those responsible for these acts must be held accountable.