The US State Department has implemented a new visa restriction policy targeting people believed to have been involved in undermining peace, security, or stability in the West Bank.
Through a statement, the State Department announced that the persons committing acts of violence or taking other actions restricting civilians’ access to essential services and basic necessities are also included VisaGuide.World reports.
The State Department stressed that the US has continuously opposed actions that undermine stability in the West Bank, taking into account attacks by Israeli settlers against Palestine, as well as Palestinian attacks against Israelis.
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. As President Biden has repeatedly said, those attacks are unacceptable. Last week in Israel, I made clear that the United States is ready to take action using our own authorities.
The State Department stressed that it will continue to seek accountability for acts of violence against civilians in the West Bank, regardless of the perpetrator or victim, adding that the US will continue to engage with the Israeli leadership in order to ensure that Israel must introduce additional measures to protect Palestinian civilians from extremist attacks.
We will also continue to engage the Palestinian Authority to make clear it must do more to curb Palestinian attacks against Israelis. Both Israel and the Palestinian Authority have the responsibility to uphold stability in the West Bank. 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.
During a news conference, Israeli government spokesman Eylon Levy condemned violence in the West Bank. However, he described the majority of Israelis there as “law-abiding citizens.”
Israel denounces any violence and has zero tolerance for citizens who may be thinking of taking the law into their own hands or engaging in acts of vigilantism or hooliganism
State Department spokesman Matthew Miller said in a briefing that the visa restrictions will affect a large number of persons.
Citizens from Israel with valid US visas under the policy will be informed that their visas have been revoked, and the applications of those applying for new visas will also be rejected, according to him. However, the new changes will not affect Israeli settlers who are US citizens.