**Jinsafut, West Bank**
In a recent turn of events late Monday, suspected Jewish settlers attacked Palestinian villages in the occupied West Bank, causing destruction to vehicles and properties. Shortly thereafter, U.S. President Donald Trump announced the cancellation of previous sanctions against Israelis involved in violent acts in the region. The cancellation of these sanctions, originally enforced by the Biden administration to deter violent settlers, may signal a new phase of U.S. policy that appears more accommodating towards Israel’s settlement expansions and aggressive actions against Palestinians. During his earlier administration, Trump strongly supported Israel and has reassembled a team of advisors who are favorable toward settlers.
Settlement leaders hailed Trump’s decision to dismiss the sanctions, which were put into effect nearly a year ago amidst increasing violence during the Gaza conflict. These sanctions were subsequently widened to include other Israelis who were labeled as radical or violent. Bezalel Smotrich, Israel’s Finance Minister and a prominent figure among settlers, described the sanctions as a “significant and overt foreign intervention” and expressed gratitude for Trump’s “steadfast and unyielding support for Israel” through a post on the social media platform X.
Living under prolonged Israeli military rule, the 3 million Palestinians in the West Bank are governed by the Palestinian Authority, which manages local municipalities. Settler leaders like Smotrich are advocating for the annexation of the West Bank and the re-establishment of settlements in Gaza, areas that Israel acquired during the 1967 Middle East war. Palestinian authorities regard these settlements as substantial barriers to peace, and the international community controversially regards them as illegal, with over 500,000 settlers currently residing in the West Bank.
During her confirmation hearing on Tuesday, Rep. Elise Stefanik, chosen by Trump to be the U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, reaffirmed her previous claims that Israel possesses a “biblical right” to the occupied territories. On the same night of the sanctions cancellation, numerous masked individuals, believed to be settlers, reportedly invaded at least two Palestinian villages, attacking residential and commercial properties, according to regional officials in Jinsafut and Al-Funduq, situated about 30 miles north of Jerusalem.
The Palestinian Red Crescent reported treating 12 individuals who were assaulted during these incidents. Although specific injuries were not disclosed, the Israeli military indicated that the assailants threw rocks at soldiers dispatched to disperse them, and an investigation into the events has been initiated. Amidst heightened violence in the West Bank during the Gaza war, the reasoning and implications of the attacks remain unclear. On Tuesday, news emerged of a deadly Israeli military operation at the Jenin refugee camp.
Jalal Bashir, the village council head in Jinsafut, stated that the attackers targeted three homes, a nursery, and a carpentry shop along the main route through the village. Louay Tayem, leader of Al-Funduq’s local council, detailed that many assailants discharged firearms, hurled stones, set vehicles ablaze, and assaulted homes and businesses. Bashir reported that “the settlers were masked and possessed incendiary materials,” emphasizing the unprecedented scale of the incident.
The aftermath has left charred cars lining the roads of Jinsafut, with residents assessing the extensive damage inflicted on local infrastructure.
Despite the Biden administration’s sanctions representing a significant deviation from traditional U.S. support for Israel, they reflected a rising frustration with perceived leniency toward violent settlers. Rights organizations have cited an increase in reckless behavior, particularly following Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz’s decision to exempt settlers from what is known as administrative detention—a measure frequently employed against Palestinians.
Katz recently released all Israelis detained under this administrative framework and indicated that legal action would be pursued against those responsible for Monday’s violence within Israel’s more transparent judicial process. In contrast, Palestinians face trials in military courts. Biden’s sanctions targeted settlers involved in violent activities, threats against Palestinians, and confiscation efforts against Palestinian properties; they were later expanded to encompass various organizations, including Tzav 9, which faced accusations of blocking humanitarian aid to Gaza.
Reut Ben-Chaim, the founder of Tzav 9, expressed support for Trump’s action, highlighting the hardships the previous sanctions caused for her wellness business. She noted an apparent shift towards a pro-Israel stance under the Trump administration, citing the reversal of the sanctions as a strategic move.
While Trump has consistently championed Israel, he has also indicated a desire to conclude ongoing Middle Eastern conflicts, which might necessitate exerting pressure on Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. In dialogue before taking office, Trump seemingly urged Netanyahu to endorse a ceasefire agreement with Hamas that closely aligned with proposals the Biden administration had been pressing.
Trump’s aspirations to extend the Abraham Accords to include Saudi Arabia could complicate matters, as the Saudis have insisted on a pathway to Palestinian statehood as a precondition—an issue that contradicts Netanyahu’s government’s stance. Throughout his first term, Trump took significant steps to bolster Israel’s position, moving the U.S. embassy to Jerusalem, acknowledging Israel’s annexation of the Golan Heights, and endorsing a Mideast peace initiative favoring Israel’s interests. Despite this, he appeared to stall various annexation plans supported by far-right settlers, which Netanyahu reportedly put on hold as part of an arrangement with the United Arab Emirates.
