Smotrich Criticizes Biden Over Sanctions Against Settlers

During a statement he gave at a meeting of his Religious Zionism party, Finance Minister Betzalel Smotrich criticized the Biden administration for imposing sanctions on allegedly violent settlers and Israeli banks who have heeded those sanctions by freezing their accounts.

Smotrich said that "Last week, the Biden administration set a precedent in imposing serious sanctions against citizens in the State of Israel, and this as part of a false and antisemitic campaign about 'settler violence' led by BDS parties and enemies of Israel."

He continued that "the administration is taking steps usually taken against terrorists and terrorist groups and smears over half a million law-abiding Israeli citizens...the State of Israel cannot agree and stand aside with this action by the American administration."

In addressing recent reports that Israeli banks have begun to freeze the accounts of individuals under American sanction, Smotrich said "it cannot be that an Israeli citizen with Israeli money in an Israeli bank will be without rights and assets because of an American order...we cannot allow this reality."