Japan has decided to implement asset-freeze sanctions against Israeli settlers engaging in violent actions towards Palestinians in the West Bank, according to Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshimasa Hayashi. This move aligns Japan with other G7 countries, including Canada and the UK, which have also proposed sanctions against such settlers. Hayashi emphasized the importance of working with the international community, particularly the G7 nations, to encourage the Israeli government to cease settlement activities in the West Bank.
The sanctions target four specific Israeli settlers implicated in the violence and will be enforced under the Foreign Exchange and Foreign Trade Act. The decision comes in response to an increase in violent incidents committed by Israeli settlers, particularly following the attacks on October 7, which have led to the displacement of Palestinians in the West Bank.
The European Union Council has also recently approved sanctions against violent Israeli settlers and activists. This follows a series of international reactions, including condemnation from the United Nations and a ruling from the International Court of Justice that deemed the Israeli settlements in Palestinian territories illegal under international law.
Japan’s sanctions, as announced by the Chief Cabinet Secretary, reflect a growing international consensus against the expansion of Israeli settlements and the associated violence in the West Bank. More details on this development can be found on JURIST.