Upon taking office on Monday, January 20, President Donald J. Trump issued an executive decree titled, “Initial Rescissions of Harmful Executive Orders and Actions,” announcing that “The previous administration has embedded deeply unpopular, inflationary, illegal, and radical practices within every agency and office of the Federal Government.”
“To commence the policies that will make our Nation united, fair, safe, and prosperous again, it is the policy of the United States to restore common sense to the Federal Government and unleash the potential of the American citizen. The revocations within this order will be the first of many steps the United States Federal Government will take to repair our institutions and our economy,” Trump’s decree promised, starting with deleting 78 Biden executive actions, including:
Executive Order 14115 of February 1, 2024 (Imposing Certain Sanctions on Persons Undermining Peace, Security, and Stability in the West Bank).
Trump’s decision represents a significant reversal of a major policy enacted by the Biden administration, which had imposed sanctions on numerous Jewish settlers and entities. These sanctions froze their US assets and broadly prohibited Americans from engaging in business with them.
In the 11 months following Biden’s executive order against Judea and Samaria Jews, 17 individuals and 16 entities were sanctioned in eight separate rounds. Earlier in January, Biden announced the extension of his executive order, which enabled sanctions on “extremist Israeli settlers” for an additional 12 months beyond the emergency order’s original expiration date of February 1, 2025.
In response to the lifting of sanctions, Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich expressed gratitude to President Trump, stating:
“I thank President Donald Trump for his just decision to lift the sanctions imposed by the Biden administration against settlers and activists in right-wing organizations. These sanctions represented a blatant act of foreign interference in the internal affairs of the State of Israel and undermined the principles of democracy and the mutual relationship between our two friendly nations.
“Mr. President, your steadfast support for the State of Israel reflects your deep connection to the Jewish people and their historical right to their land. I am confident that during your tenure, we will continue to strengthen our strategic partnership and deepen our friendship, rooted in shared values of justice, freedom, and security.
“The State of Israel looks forward to continued cooperation in bolstering its national security, expanding settlement across all parts of the Land of Israel, and enhancing Israel’s standing on the global stage.”
Samaria Council Chairman Yossi Dagan applauded the lifting of sanctions, calling it “an opportunity for the Israeli government to achieve great, historic milestones – regardless of whether the Trump administration agrees or disagrees.”
Dagan stressed that “Trump’s decision to overturn Biden’s scandalous sanctions sends not only an important moral message but also a clear political message: the United States is once again a steadfast ally of Israel.”
Beit El Council Chairman Shai Alon also welcomed the decision, stating, “The winds of change have begun; the golden age of settlement has arrived. This is the time for sovereignty. I urge the government and its leader to seize every moment and work relentlessly for the future of Israel. We will not coexist alongside murderers and will continue to expand and strengthen our presence in the land of our ancestors.”
