FinCEN Updates Alert on Israeli Extremists Funding Violence in the West Bank

The Treasury Department’s Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) has updated an alert originally issued in February, cautioning financial institutions about Israeli extremists inciting violence in the West Bank. Released on Thursday, the alert includes new red flags to "assist U.S. financial institutions in identifying and reporting suspicious activity that finances West Bank violence,” FinCEN announced in a press release.

In tandem with this alert, the Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) and the U.S. Department of State have sanctioned and designated individuals and entities connected to the violence, including four farms in the West Bank.

FinCEN's initial alert regarding the violence was issued in February, followed by OFAC sanctions against entities and individuals funding the unrest in April. The updated alert provides additional red flags for financial institutions to monitor, such as:

• Payments involving entities, individuals, addresses on accounts, receiving addresses, or IP addresses linked to any West Bank “outpost.”

• References or payments to accounts held in the name of Israeli violent extremist settler groups or individuals implicated in violence against Palestinians in the West Bank, including references or payments to accounts held by known immediate family members of designated individuals.

• References or payments to accounts or webpages fundraising for convicted, imprisoned, or U.S.-sanctioned violent extremists targeting Palestinians in the West Bank.

• Accounts sharing a merchant representative, email, phone number, social media page, or physical address with accounts held in the name of designated individuals or entities.

• Payments to beneficiaries, accounts, or crowdfunding campaigns linked to social media indicating support for violence in the West Bank, including pictures and videos, support for violence targeting Palestinians in the West Bank, or references to known or designated Israeli settler violent extremists, outposts, herding farms, or groups.

According to the State Department, certain farm settlers have allegedly obstructed access to pasturage and water sources, destroyed crops, threatened Palestinian residents by approaching their houses, and disturbed the peace in the area. Additionally, designated individuals are accused of blocking humanitarian aid convoys heading towards the Gaza Strip.

By fLEXI tEAM