WASHINGTON: The United States said on Tuesday it would refuse visas for extremist Israeli settlers who attack Palestinians, stepping up pressure to curb a wave of violence in the occupied West Bank since the Hamas raid of Oct 7.

The measures amount to a rare concrete repercussion by the United States against Israelis in the nearly two-month-old crisis, in which President Joe Biden has nudged the US ally on protecting civilians but also promised strong support.

Secretary of State Antony Blinken said that the United States would refuse entry to anyone involved in “undermining peace, security or stability in the West Bank” or who takes actions that “unduly restrict civilians’ access to essential services and basic necessities”.

“We have underscored to the Israeli government the need to do more to hold accountable extremist settlers who have committed violent attacks against Palestinians in the West Bank,” Blinken said in a statement.

“As President Biden has repeatedly said, those attacks are unacceptable,” Blinken said.

“Instability in the West Bank both harms the Israeli and Palestinian people and threatens Israel’s national security interests. Those responsible for it must be held accountable.”

Published in Dawn, December 6th, 2023