More than 20 US senators introduced a resolution in the Senate calling for the State Department to submit a report to Congress examining violence and human rights violations in the West Bank.
Led by Jeanne Shaheen, Chris Van Hollen, Tim Kaine and Bernie Sanders, the resolution calls for the report to include information on investigations into US citizens killed in the occupied West Bank, as well as the detention of Palestinian children. The text is based on Section 502B(c) of the Foreign Assistance Act.
Resolution highlights human rights in the West Bank
The resolution calls for an assessment of the human rights situation in the West Bank and for Congress to be informed about investigations into US citizens killed by Israeli settlers or Israeli security forces.
Shaheen said the United States had a responsibility to ensure comprehensive investigations into citizens killed anywhere in the world. She said the deaths in the West Bank and extremist settler violence against Palestinians were undermining the rule of law and threatening a two-state solution, adding that the United States needed to send a message that it would not support unchecked escalation.
Shaheen also called on the Trump administration to continue making clear that the United States opposes the annexation of the West Bank and extremist settler policies.
Senators say nine Americans have been killed
Tim Kaine said violence in the West Bank had reached an unprecedented level. Kaine called on Israeli leaders to limit illegal settlements in the West Bank, prosecute settlers who commit violence and take more decisive steps to protect Palestinians and US citizens living in or visiting the area.
The senators said nine US citizens had been killed in the West Bank in recent years and argued that the Israeli or US administrations had failed to ensure sufficient accountability in these cases.
Senate committee given 10 days for review
Section 502B(c) of the Foreign Assistance Act allows Congress to request a State Department report on human rights conditions in countries receiving US security assistance. The resolution could move to the Senate floor after a 10-day review by the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.
If adopted, the resolution would require the administration to submit the report within 30 days. Failure to provide the report could trigger restrictions on some US security assistance to Israel.
After receiving the report, Congress could also consider whether to make changes to US security assistance based on its findings.
