U.S. Senate Narrowly Rejects Bill Demanding Report on Israeli Rights Violations in West Bank - U.S. News
The U.S. Senate has narrowly rejected a resolution that would have demanded the delivery to Congress of information regarding the killing of American citizens by settlers and Israeli security forces in the West Bank, as well as an assessment of the human rights situation in the area.
The resolution failed to advance by a vote of 47 to 51.
The proposal, sponsored by U.S. Sen. Chris Van Hollen (D-MD) along with more than 20 other senators, was submitted under a section of the U.S. Foreign Assistance Act, which states that failure to deliver the report within 30 days of the resolution's approval could lead to the cessation of part of the security assistance to Israel.
According to the text of the proposal, nine American citizens have been killed in the West Bank since January 2022, and its sponsors argued that Israel and the U.S. have failed to bring anyone to justice in these cases. The proposal was rejected along mostly party lines, with Democratic Senator John Fetterman the only Democrat who voted against the proposal and Republican Senator Rand Paul supporting it.
The US says our # 1 priority abroad is protecting Americans. But in the West Bank, 9 Americans have been killed by Israeli settlers or security forces with no justice. Meanwhile they attack Palestinians daily with total impunity. Today, I'll force a vote to demand
Speaking during the debate, Van Hollen said that, "the U.S. Government – including this Administration – has said time and again that our number one priority abroad is ensuring the safety and security of American citizens. And yet, as we've seen violence rise in the West Bank, nine American citizens have been killed in recent years, and they have received no justice and no accountability. Their families – and the American people – deserve answers on their deaths.
"But today, Republicans denied them that," he added. "Meanwhile, the Palestinian people have also borne the toll of this violence day in and day out. They too deserve justice and accountability. But again, Republicans blocked that today. While I was pleased that so many of my Democratic colleagues joined this effort, it's clear the United States must do more. It is our responsibility to ensure recipients of U.S. taxpayer dollars act in line with our laws and our values – this resolution was an opportunity to shed light on a reality that flies in the face of that principle."
The resolution called for an unclassified State Department report within 30 days covering the killings, including investigations into potential suspects; Palestinian American citizens being held in Israeli prisons; Palestinian children in military detention; and Washington's efforts to secure accountability.
The resolution also sought an assessment of whether implicated Israeli units fall under the Leahy laws, which prohibit military assistance to foreign forces when there is credible information that they have committed gross violations of human rights.
Under Section 502B(c) of the Foreign Assistance Act, failure to deliver the report within the statutory deadline would prohibit the delivery of relevant security assistance until the report is supplied, subject to subsequent legal authorization.
Senate adoption alone can trigger the reporting requirement, but adoption does not immediately suspend aid. After receiving the report, Congress could pursue separate legislation restricting assistance.
Besides Van Hollen, among Senate Democrats to have co-sponsored the effort include former pro-Israel stalwarts and key committee ranking members like Chris Coons, Tim Kaine, Richard Blumenthal, Jeanne Shaheen, Jack Reed and Patty Murray.
Kaine, Blumenthal, Shaheen, Reed and Murray notably voted to block a similar reporting effort in 2024, but now sponsor this one – evidence of broader Democratic support for oversight, even though the two resolutions address different circumstances.