JERUSALEM (AP) — The Biden administration recently imposed sanctions on Israeli settler Yinon Levi for allegedly assaulting Palestinian civilians in the occupied West Bank. In response, Levi's supporters launched an online fundraiser that collected over $140,000 from more than 3,000 donors worldwide. However, these contributions may now pose a risk of penalties for violating U.S. sanctions to the donors, crowdfunding sites, and financial services firms involved.
The sanctions prevent Levi and six other hard-line settlers from accessing the U.S. financial system, leading Israeli banks to freeze their personal accounts. The funds raised for Levi through the crowdfunding campaign on the Givechak website were intended for the development of his unauthorized settler outpost.
Experts emphasize that U.S. citizens and companies involved in such campaigns are at risk of violating sanctions. The U.S. government has the authority to blacklist Israeli entities facilitating such violations. The Treasury Department's Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) has also warned U.S. financial institutions against engaging with groups supporting settler violence in the West Bank.
Crowdfunding has become crucial for raising money for settlement outposts, with the international community largely viewing all West Bank settlements as illegal hindrances to peace. Levi's Meitarim Farm, established in 2021, received significant support through crowdfunding efforts.
Following the sanctions, fundraising pages for sanctioned settlers were taken down, and efforts were made to disassociate companies from the settlers. The involvement of Israeli banks in crowdfunding campaigns has raised concerns about potential penalties.
Despite these developments, some crowdfunding platforms have continued to operate in compliance with the sanctions order. The impact of the sanctions extends beyond individual settlers to include prominent Jewish organizations like the Jewish National Fund, which has been linked to funding programs for troubled youth working on unauthorized outposts.
The sanctions' broader implications highlight the interconnectedness of the global financial system and the complexities surrounding fundraising for contentious causes in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
