The President's Daily Brief - PDB Afternoon Bulletin | December 7th, 2023: Russian War Crimes & Travel Ban On Israeli "Extremist Settlers"

Episode Date: December 7, 2023

In this episode of The PDB Afternoon Bulletin:  Prosecutors with the Justice Department charged four Russian troops with war crimes on Wednesday in a historic indictment aimed at holding the Putin regime accountable for the abduction and torture of an American citizen living in Ukraine. The State Department has announced a travel ban on Israeli “extremist settlers” in the West Bank, who have been involved in deadly attacks on Palestinians in the region. Please remember to subscribe if you enjoyed this episode of The PDB Afternoon Bulletin.     Email: [e-mail] Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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Welcome to the PDB afternoon bulletin. I'm Mike Baker. Your eyes and ears on the world stage. Let's get briefed. Prosecutors with the Justice Department charged four Russian troops with war crimes on Wednesday in a historic indictment aimed at holding the Putin regime accountable for the abduction and torture of an American citizen living in Ukraine. We'll also discuss the State Department's recent announcement of a travel ban on Israeli extremist settlers in the West Bank,

who have been involved in deadly attacks on Palestinians in the region. But first, our afternoon spotlight, the U.S. is taking the Putin regime to task for alleged war crimes committed against an American citizen during Russia's brutal invasion of Ukraine. In the indictment, unsealed Wednesday, the U.S. Department of Justice charged four members of Russia's military with the abduction and torture of an American in Ukraine. It was a historic rebuke of Russian belligerents, and it marked the first time that the U.S. has brought charges under the War Crimes Act, which is a 30-year-old statute aimed at protecting the rights of Americans overseas. Now, the four Russian military members, two of whom were commanding officers, are charged with unlawful confinement, conspiracy to

commit war crimes, inhuman treatment, and torture. The indictment noted that, as the American was not participating on either side of the conflict, the Russian actions constituted a violation of the Geneva Convention of 1949. The unnamed American was allegedly abducted from his home in the Ukrainian village of Milov in April 2022 and held for 10 days at a Russian military base, where he was tortured, according to a report by CNN. He was allegedly stripped naked by Russian troops who tied his hands behind his back and savagely beat him with their stocks of their guns. The soldiers also repeatedly threatened the American with sexual assault and death at various points holding guns to his head and knives to his neck. They also put a gun to the back of his

head, then fired a bullet just past his head in a mock execution. Now, after beating and torturing the American, the Russians put him to work digging trenches. He was finally released and evacuated in the summer of 2022. Again and again, said Merrick Garland, the Attorney General, he believed he was going to die. He called the indictment an important step towards accountability for the illegal war in Ukraine. Now, officials with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security interviewed the unidentified American regarding his experience. Federal agents were also sent abroad to gather intelligence and to interview family members. Garland said the DOJ is actively investigating other potential cases of war crimes by members of the Russian military. While the Russians in question

are obviously not accessible to the American justice system, he suggested that the symbolic charges would be the start of a longer-term effort to ensure that those who have participated in war-time atrocities face justice. Garland called it a, quote, historic day for the Justice Department that builds on a long history, citing allied efforts following World War II to identify and charge Nazi war criminals. All right. Coming up after the break, the State Department has announced a travel ban on Israeli, quote, extremist settlers in the West Bank who have been involved in deadly attacks on Palestinians in the region. I'll be right back. Welcome back to the PDB afternoon bulletin.

In another unprecedented diplomatic move, the U.S. is imposing a travel ban on what they referred to as extremist Israeli settlers of the West Bank linked to deadly attacks on Palestinians in the region. Now, Secretary of State Anthony Blinken announced the ban on the West Bank extremists on Tuesday and said it will apply to dozens of settlers and their families. A State Department spokesman did not provide details about specific. individuals, but added that additional steps would be taken if violence against Palestinians in the West Bank continues. Blinken had warned Israel just last week that the U.S. would be taking actions

to address the attacks in the West Bank. U.S. officials have also increased pressure on Israel in recent weeks to do more to limit civilian casualties as they expand their response into southern Gaza. While the Biden administration has been cautious in their criticism of Israeli military actions, their rebukes of violence in the West Bank have been more forceful. Blankin said Tuesday, quote, We have underscored to the Israeli government the need to do more to hold accountable extremist settlers who have committed violent acts against Palestinians in the West Bank. Now, since the Savage 7 October terrorist attacks on Israel by Hamas, Jewish settlers in the

West Bank have killed at least eight Palestinians, according to a report by the Associated Press. the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs counts a total of 314 attacks by settlers, which included damaging property, threats of violence with firearms, and shootings. Members of the Israeli military have allegedly accompanied settlers or given their outright support in almost half of the attacks. Blinken said the attacks have also impacted, quote, access to essential services and basic necessities for Palestinians in the region. Now, just last month, the State Department. announced the designation of Israel into the U.S. visa waiver program, which allows Israeli citizens to enter the U.S. without a visa. Under the travel ban, West Bank settlers identified by the State

Department will be barred access to that visa waiver program. Blinkett said Tuesday that, quote, both Israel and the Palestinian Authority have the responsibility to uphold stability in the West Bank. He added that continued violence by settlers in the West Bank threatens Israel's national security interests. And that, my friends, is the PDB afternoon bulletin for Thursday, 7 December. If you have any questions or comments, please reach out to me at PDB at thefirsttv.com.

I'm Mike Baker. I'll be back tomorrow. Until then, stay informed. Stay safe. Stay cool.