Portside

Congressional Democrats have introduced legislation to sanction Israeli settlers that commit acts of violence in the West Bank.

The bicameral Sanctions and Accountability for Non-Compliance and Transparent Investigative Oversight for National Security (SANCTIONS) in the West Bank Act, was introduced by Senator Peter Welch (D-VT) and Representative Summer Lee (D-PA).

“Sanctions have been an effective tool to deter violence in this deadly year for those living in the West Bank, where lives have been lost, homes have been destroyed, and families have been forever changed,” said Welch in a statement. “We must ensure accountability for extremists who perpetrate violence against civilians in the West Bank and reaffirm our commitment to a lasting Middle East peace.”

“This bill is about accountability, justice, and ensuring that U.S. policy stands firmly against extremist violence and destabilization,” said Lee.

The SANCTIONS Act has a number of cosponsors. Reps. Mark Pocan (D-WI), Betty McCollum (D-MN), Zoe Lofgren (D-CA), Jill Tokuda (D-HI), Al Green (D-TX), Jan Schakowsky (D-IL), Sara Jacobs (D-CA); Jim McGovern (D-MA), and Andre Carson (D-IN) in the House. Dick Durbin (D-IL); Bernie Sanders (I-VT); Jack Reed (D-RI); Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), ad Jeff Merkley (D-OR) in the Senate.

Settler violence has surged in the illegally occupied West Bank in the last 14 months. According to the Palestinian Ministry of Health, over 800 Palestinians have been killed and more than 6,000 wounded by settler violence since October 7, 2023.

“This violence is not new to us. We suffered their [settlers] attacks in Al-Mu’arrajat since 2018, and it scarily intensified since October 7,” a displaced Palestinian woman told Amnesty international earlier this year. “Every place we move to, they come and displace us again. People come visit and tell us to stay steadfast, but how can we stay steadfast when our lives and livelihood and the lives of our children are in danger?… This is a systematic policy that allows the settlers to attack residents and burn everything down, and no one is doing anything to stop it.”

The new bill codifies President Joe Biden’s February 2024 Executive Order, which allowed the Treasury Department to impose sanctions against individuals “undermining peace and stability in the West Bank.” The move was met with anger from various pro-Israel groups and the administration was even sued by U.S.-Israeli citizens who claimed that their free-speech and religious rights were violated by the order.

Last month the White House announced a new round of sanctions on groups and individuals connected to illegal settlements in the West Bank. According State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller the Biden administration has sanctioned 33 individuals and entities over the last 10 months.

“There is no justification for extremist violence against civilians – period,” Miller told reporters. “We are committed to working with Israel and the Palestinian Authority to de-escalate violence in the West Bank, which has cost the lives of too many Israeli and Palestinian civilians.”

“The President and the Secretary have repeatedly stressed with their Israeli counterparts that Israel must do more to stop violence against civilians in the West Bank and hold accountable those responsible for it,” he continued.

Palestinians in the West Bank have been critical of the U.S. policy, with many saying that sanctions on settlers has done, and will do little to stop the violence against them in the West Bank, particularly as settlers feel more emboldened than ever under Netanyahu’s current right wing government.

The SANCTIONS Act isn’t the only current legislative effort aimed at Israel. This week Lee and Rep. Greg Casar (D-TX) led a letter (signed by an additional 18 Democratic House members) urging Biden official to adhere to its own ultimatum on military aid.

In October Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin had threatened to cut off offensive weapons shipments to Israel if the country’s government failed to improve the humanitarian situation in Gaza.

“Last month, as the 30-day deadline arrived, your Administration said it would not suspend military assistance to Israel because it determined that the Netanyahu government took some steps to improve the flow of humanitarian aid into Gaza. While Israel made nominal progress in some areas, it overwhelmingly failed to meet the minimum standards laid out in the Administration’s own letter,” reads the letter.

“Simply put, the Netanyahu government has not complied with the United States’ repeated requests to allow humanitarian aid to be delivered safely to innocent people. Under U.S. law, the United States government must suspend offensive weapons to any nation that fails to meet these basic standards,” it continues.

Earlier this month 77 House Democrats sent the administration a letter seeking a full assessment of Israeli compliance with U.S. law, including the National Security Memorandum and the Foreign Assistance Act.

“Our concerns remain urgent and largely unresolved,” read the letter.

Michael Arria is Mondoweiss’ U.S. correspondents. His work has appeared in In These Times, The Appeal, and Truthout. He is the author of Medium Blue: The Politics of MSNBC. Follow him on x at @michaelarria.

In a media landscape where critical coverage of Palestine is shrinking, Mondoweiss stands firm—fiercely independent, movement-led, and unwavering in our commitment to documenting Palestinian experiences. Our journalists on the ground in Palestine and the U.S. work tirelessly to bring you stories mainstream outlets too often ignore. With each article, we resist silence and amplify voices fighting for freedom and justice.