00:00 Violence in the West Bank surged to alarming levels in 2023.
00:04 This includes unprecedented levels of violence by Israeli extremist settlers targeting Palestinians
00:09 and their property, as well as violence by Palestinian extremist militants against Israeli
00:14 civilians.
00:15 Today's action follows on the step we took in December to impose visa restrictions on
00:19 dozens of individuals for contributing to violence and instability in the West Bank.
00:25 There is no justification for extremist violence against civilians, whatever their national
00:29 origin, ethnicity, or religion.
00:32 It is very much to send the message that we think more needs to be done by the government
00:36 of Israel.
00:37 Number two, that we will also take action on behalf of the United States, both against
00:41 those who engage in settler violence and extremist settler violence that have been prosecuted
00:48 by governments and others who have not.
00:50 There was one today who was not.
00:52 Part of that message is not just to the government of Israel, but also to people themselves who
00:58 might be considering engaging in acts of violence to let them know that the United States government
01:02 is watching and will take action.
01:05 And I also think you should not conclude that we are done with our action, through our actions
01:10 today.
01:11 The executive order was just promulgated today, gives the State Department and the Treasury
01:15 Department new sanctions authorities that we did not previously have.
01:19 We will not hesitate to use those sanctions authorities if it's appropriate to do so.
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