US restricts more visas of Israelis accused of West Bank violence

WASHINGTON, July 18:  The United States on Wednesday announced new visa restrictions against Israelis who have committed violent acts against Palestinians in the occupied West Bank, calling on Israel to hold those individuals accountable.

"This is about a broad trend of increased violence that we have sadly seen over the past months and the need for Israel to do more to hold people accountable for it," US State Department spokesman Matthew Miller told reporters.

The measures bar certain Israelis and their loved ones from entering the United States. 
Miller said Israel's government has taken "some steps to crack down on settler violence in the West Bank," such as arresting some perpetrators.

"But those steps have not been sufficient," he added.    —AFP