United States President Donald Trump rescinded sanctions against Israeli settlers and right-wing organizations in Judea and Samaria within hours of taking office, marking an immediate departure from his predecessor's policies. The sanctions, implemented under the Biden administration, had frozen American assets and barred US citizens from conducting business with designated entities.
Among those affected were Reut Ben Haim and Shlomo Sarid, leaders of the Tzav 9 movement opposing humanitarian aid transfers – considered the lifeline of the Hamas terror group – to the Gaza Strip. The two had petitioned Trump directly for the sanctions' removal. Strategic Affairs Minister Ron Dermer had also raised the issue during post-election meetings with Trump in Florida.
Sources revealed that Biden administration officials had attempted to expand sanctions against additional settler groups in their final days, but US Treasury officials halted the initiative, warning it would face immediate reversal under Trump's presidency.
Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich characterized the original sanctions as "severe foreign interference in Israel's internal affairs" that undermined bilateral relations. Speaking at Trump's inauguration celebration in Washington, Head of the Samaria Regional Council Yossi Dagan framed the decision as "a diplomatic signal that America is reinstating its role as Israel's steadfast ally."
Dagan emphasized the opportunity for Israel's government to "achieve momentous breakthroughs" in Judea and Samaria, suggesting that any policy disagreements with the Trump administration would be "between true friends."
