President Biden just issued an Executive Order imposing sanctions on violent settlers in the West Bank.

This Executive Order, ostensibly targeting violent settlers in the West Bank who have been attacking Palestinians, must be viewed in the context of a broader inconsistency in the administration’s approach. While the order sanctions specific settlers, the President’s unwavering support for Israel, including bypassing Congress to provide additional military aid amidst Israel’s ongoing genocide in Gaza, raises questions about the sincerity of these measures.

The inconsistency becomes glaring when considering the administration’s role in enabling the four-month-long genocide in Gaza. The Executive Order, while a welcome and necessary step, is incongruent with the broader picture of unconditional support for Israel. There’s very little Biden can do to redeem himself of the war crimes he continues to enable. The President needs to do more so this does not look like political expediency. This cosmetic action does not go far enough.

The root cause lies in the almost 76-year-long occupation of Palestinians, a historical injustice that demands consistent and principled actions. President Biden must demonstrate coherence in his policies by not only issuing sanctions but also ceasing unconditional support for Israel. The administration must take more substantive steps to redeem itself from the war crimes it has enabled and funded. At a minimum, President Biden must facilitate and enforce an immediate and complete ceasefire in Israel, publicly recognize and reaffirm Palestinian rights, an end to the Israeli occupation of Palestine, and the cessation of ALL military aid to Israel.

Signed,

Dr. Osama Abu Irshaid, Executive Director