WASHINGTON: A group of US lawmakers has introduced legislation seeking to halt the construction and expansion of Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank and Gaza, putting the issue of settlement activity back at the centre of debate in Congress.
The Stop the Settlements Act, led by Democratic Representative Joaquin Castro, would impose sanctions on individuals and entities involved in building or expanding Israeli settlements and outposts. The legislation would also prohibit imports of goods produced in Israeli settlements and outposts.
Representatives Madeleine Dean, Don Beyer, Greg Casar, Sara Jacobs and Veronica Escobar are among the lawmakers sponsoring the measure. Representative Rosa DeLauro is also listed among its co-sponsors. The bill is intended to use US economic measures to discourage further settlement construction and expansion.
Castro said settlement expansion had become a major obstacle to a political resolution of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Other sponsors similarly argued that continued construction could contribute to the displacement of Palestinians and complicate prospects for Palestinian self-determination.
The proposed legislation would give the US president authority to impose sanctions on foreign individuals and entities involved in activities supporting new settlements or expanding existing ones. It would also target infrastructure development and other activities connected with settlement expansion, according to the lawmakers’ description of the bill.
The measure comes amid renewed international attention to Israeli settlement activity. Earlier this week, the UN human rights office expanded its database of companies linked to Israeli settlements, adding 61 companies and bringing the total to 214. The UN considers Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank contrary to international law, while Israel disputes such characterisations.
The proposed US legislation also arrives shortly after the Senate narrowly rejected a separate measure that would have required the State Department to report on human rights conditions and alleged violations in the West Bank. The September 29 vote was 47-51, highlighting continuing divisions in Congress over US policy toward Israel and the occupied territories.
Supporters of the Stop the Settlements Act include several US advocacy organisations. J Street said the bill would sanction entities facilitating settlement construction and restrict imports from settlements, while other groups have also backed the proposal.
However, the bill’s introduction does not mean the proposed measures will automatically become law. It must pass both chambers of Congress and receive presidential approval.
The legislation nevertheless marks another congressional effort to address Israeli settlement expansion through US policy, as debate continues over the future of the West Bank, Palestinian political rights and prospects for a negotiated settlement.
