FINALLY, the US Senate is considering legislation that, if passed, could actually force the American government to stop providing funding, weapons and ammunition to illegal Israeli settlers in the West Bank and East Jerusalem as well as the Israeli "Defense" Forces and other Israeli "security" entities until they end their genocide, war crimes and crimes against humanity in the West Bank, East Jerusalem, Gaza, Lebanon and the Golan Heights. Please sign this petition from Demand Progress calling on the senate to pass this resolution, and then e mail your senators telling them to support and vote for this resolution. The resolution follows the call to action...
Sign the petition: Vote NEXT WEEK to hold Israel accountable for ethnic cleansing in the West Bank
TELL THE SENATE: Israeli soldiers and security forces have killed 9 Americans in the West Bank in recent years with impunity. Extremist settlers execute daily attacks on the Palestinian people — and no one is held accountable. The U.S. must end complicity with Israel's violence. Sign the petition: Hold Israel accountable for ethnic cleansing in the West Bank! Trump is trying to force through a massive bomb shipment to Israel as the Israeli government continues its genocide in Gaza and ethnic cleansing in the West Bank. Israeli violence has killed 9 Americans in the West Bank in the last four years, but no one has been held accountable.1 The UN estimates that Israeli settlers, backed by Israel's security forces, led 6 violent assaults on Palestinians or their property every single day this year.2 "What is happening right now is the erasure of humans, trees and stones, and anything that is Palestinian, by settlers under the support of the military," said one Palestinian resident of Kufr Malik.3 24 Senate Democrats are leading an effort to pressure Trump and Israel to end this wanton settler violence against Americans and Palestinians.4 Sign the petition: Tell your Senators to hold Israel accountable for the murder of Americans and ethnic cleansing of Palestinians in the West Bank!The U.S. government's continuous funding and weapons support allows Israel to continue its horrific violence in Gaza, the West Bank, and Lebanon. "Violence is raging in the West Bank, fueled by Israeli settlers & the extreme Netanyahu government. America cannot sit idly by, especially as our own citizens are killed and wrongfully detained with no accountability," said Senator Chris Van Hollen, the lead sponsor of the resolution to force Trump's State Department to document Israel's violence for the world to see.5 Sen. Bernie Sanders said, "Every day, Palestinians in the West Bank experience horrific violence at the hands of Israeli settlers and security forces — and for years, the Israeli government has offered impunity instead of accountability."6 Exposing Israel's atrocities and holding settlers accountable is an important step towards real justice and safety for Palestinians. Sign the petition: Tell your Senators to vote YES next week to report on Israel's human rights violations in the West Bank!Thanks for taking action,  Sources:
Contributions to ActBlue Civics and Demand Progress Action are not deductible as charitable contributions for federal income tax purposes. Join our online community on Instagram or Twitter. Shaheen, Van Hollen, Kaine, Sanders Lead 20+ Senators in Introducing Privileged Resolution Seeking Answers on West Bank ViolenceThe Senators’ resolution – introduced Monday night – would require a report on increasing violence in the West Bank, including deaths of American citizens
They were joined in introducing the resolution by Senators Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Mazie Hirono (D-HI), Martin Heinrich (D-NM), Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), Ed Markey (D-MA), Tina Smith (D-MN), Ben Ray Luján (D-NM), Peter Welch (D-VT), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Ron Wyden (D-OR), Chris Murphy (D-NJ), Brian Schatz (D-HI), Chris Coons (D-DE), Dick Durbin (D-IL), Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-DE), Patty Murray (D-WA), Jack Reed (D-RI), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) and Tammy Duckworth (D-IL). “We have a responsibility to ensure the killing of American citizens is thoroughly investigated anywhere in the world,” said Senator Shaheen. “These killings and extremist settler violence against Palestinians in the West Bank undermine the rule of law and threaten a two-state solution. I’m proud to join this resolution to send the message from Congress that the United States will not sign off on unchecked escalation. I encourage the Trump Administration to continue to make clear that the U.S. opposes annexation of the West Bank and extremist settler policies.” “The violence committed by Israeli settlers in the West Bank is reaching an unprecedented level, and as a result more and more Americans and Palestinians are being killed and injured. These actions—and the Israeli government’s lack of response to this violence—are unacceptable and threaten the long-term safety and security of the entire region,” said Senator Kaine. “Friends need to listen to each other, and my colleagues and I have repeatedly urged Israeli leaders to take firmer action to curtail illegal settlements in the West Bank, prosecute violent settlers, and protect Palestinian residents as well as American citizens living in or visiting the West Bank. I encourage all of my colleagues to support this resolution to require the State Department to conduct a formal assessment and provide a report to Congress on the situation in the West Bank, in particular the safety and security of Americans.” “Every day, Palestinians in the West Bank experience horrific violence at the hands of Israeli settlers and security forces — and for years, the Israeli government has offered impunity instead of accountability. Enough is enough. The United States cannot keep bankrolling this violence and looking the other way — it’s time to end our complicity, once and for all,” said Senator Sanders. “In my visits to the West Bank, I’ve heard numerous stories about the organized strategy of harassment and violence settlers are inflicting upon Palestinian villagers and Palestinian Americans. Tactics include cutting off villagers from their wells, their vineyards, and their orchards, burning their vehicles, and assaulting defenseless individuals, all with the implicit support of the Netanyahu government. This is wrong under every moral code,” said Senator Merkley. “This resolution demands answers about these abuses and accountability for those responsible.” “The Netanyahu government has failed to stop Israeli security forces and settler attacks in the West Bank for years, including attacks that killed American citizens. The Trump administration has even gone so far as to reverse sanctions against individuals connected to this pattern of horrific violence. It's long past time for the U.S. government to stand up for human rights, investigate this violence against Americans and Palestinian civilians, provide full information to Congress, and hold the perpetrators accountable,” said Senator Warren. “Israeli settlers in the West Bank have perpetrated violent crimes against Palestinians, including American citizens, with impunity. It is completely reasonable for Congress to demand our own government to report who was involved in these attacks. The United States has a moral obligation to seek justice for both our own citizens and Palestinians, including many children, targeted by Israeli security forces or settlers in the West Bank,” said Senator Smith. “A mature democracy can face up to its failures and commit to doing better. I am not at all convinced that Benjamin Netanyahu’s government is up to that task, which is why it’s up to the United States.” “We have a responsibility to protect Americans abroad and seek justice when Americans are killed,” said Senator Luján. “The escalating violence in the West Bank and lack of accountability for the deaths of American citizens are deeply concerning. This resolution will help us get the answers we need, demand accountability, and ensure that we have a better assessment of the human rights situation in the West Bank.” “Israeli military and police forces are a leading perpetrator of deadly violence against American civilians—including 9 killed since 2022,” said Senator Welch. “Too often there are no serious investigations and there is no accountability after violent attacks. Israel should be held to the same standards as every other nation when it comes to the lives of American citizens—that’s what this resolution demands.” “Violent, lethal lawlessness on the West Bank is a betrayal of Israel’s moral standing and our shared values, and must be stopped. This resolution is now necessary, after so many have urged action and violence only continues to rise. Failing to enforce clear legal prohibitions and protections has cost American and Palestinian lives – and deeply threatens a peaceful, stable future for all Israelis and Palestinians,” said Senator Blumenthal. “I have long said that continued settlement activity is one of the obstacles to a long term two-state solution. Recent settler violence only further undermines this goal and demands a serious response from the Netanyahu government—a message this resolution clearly conveys,” said Senator Durbin. "The United States cannot look the other way when Americans are killed or when Palestinians are subjected to violence and displacement, and neither can Israel. We must send a clear message to the Trump administration and the Israeli government: New Mexicans will not stand by while U.S. citizens are killed by violent Israeli settlers and the Israeli military,” said Senator Heinrich. "We need to end the bloodshed and work toward lasting peace in the region. That starts with holding President Netanyahu accountable for the human rights abuses taking place in the West Bank and making clear that American taxpayers will not provide a blank check for the Israeli government to kill U.S. citizens and kill and displace Palestinians. This resolution will get us closer to real accountability from the Trump Administration and the Israeli Government.” “Settlers have attacked and killed Palestinians and Americans in the West Bank for years, too often without any real accountability from the Israeli government. We need answers about why this violence has been allowed to continue and what concrete steps are being taken to prevent future tragedies. When settler violence goes unchecked, it puts lives at risk and further undermines the prospects for lasting peace in the region,” said Senator Schatz. “The escalating settler violence in the West Bank has claimed the lives of Americans and innocent Palestinian civilians. Both the Trump administration and Netanyahu government have failed to ensure accountability and justice for these families or meaningfully provide for the safety and security of those in the West Bank. This resolution will help Congress receive information it needs to ensure that U.S. taxpayer dollars do not bankroll such abuses,” said Senator Wyden. The resolution draws upon Section 502B(c) of the Foreign Assistance Act, which allows Congress to file a privileged resolution that, if passed, would require the State Department to provide information on any country receiving U.S. security assistance and that country’s observance of internationally-recognized human rights. After introduction, the Senate Foreign Relations Committee has ten days to consider it in committee, and if it fails to do so, the resolution can be called up for a vote on the Senate floor. If the resolution passes the Senate, the Trump Administration must submit the report within 30 days or the majority of security assistance authorized to Israel would be prohibited. If the resolution passes, and following the receipt of the State Department report, Congress may consider any necessary changes to U.S. security assistance to that country in light of the information received. If the Administration declines or fails to submit the required report, the Administration’s decision would prompt the termination of certain covered security assistance programs for Israel. Text of the resolution is available here. |
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