SINGAPORE, Nov 21 \u2014 Singapore has announced targeted financial sanctions and travel bans on four Israeli men accused of carrying out \u201cegregious acts of extremist violence\u201d against Palestinians in the occupied West Bank, in a rare move underscoring the city-state\u2019s growing concern over escalating settler attacks.<\/p>\n
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) said the measures, imposed with immediate effect today, apply to Meir Mordechai Ettinger, Elisha Yered, Ben-Zion Gopstein and Baruch Marzel. CNA first reported the announcement.<\/p>\n
In a statement, the MFA said the men\u2019s actions were \u201cunlawful and undermine and jeopardise prospects for a two-state solution\u201d.<\/p>\n
It reiterated Singapore\u2019s longstanding position that Israeli settlements in the West Bank \u201care illegal under international law\u201d, adding that their expansion \u201cwill make it much harder to arrive at a viable two-state solution\u201d.<\/p>\n
As \u201ca firm supporter of international law and the two-state solution\u201d, Singapore opposed any unilateral attempt \u201cto change facts on the ground through acts that are illegal under international law\u201d, the ministry said.<\/p>\n
It also urged the Israeli government \u201cto restrain acts of settler violence and to hold the perpetrators accountable\u201d.<\/p>\n
Singapore\u2019s Foreign Minister Dr Vivian Balakrishnan had signalled the move in September, telling parliament that Singapore intended to sanction leaders of radical right-wing settler groups responsible for violence against Palestinians.<\/p>\n
He cautioned at the time that such measures should not be expected to alter realities on the ground.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s often more a statement of principle and expression of disapproval,\u201d Dr Balakrishnan said.<\/p>\n
\u201cI wouldn\u2019t bank that, historically, any set of sanctions has been decisive in its own way.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m not saying that we entered into sanctions lightly. It is, for us, a major statement, but I don\u2019t want to overstate its impact.\u201d<\/p>\n
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