US Democrats to propose sanctions targeting Israel’s E1 settlement project
Senator Chris Coons said the US ‘must send a strong
message’ condemning the behavior of ‘violent extremist settlers’
SEP 23, 2026
A group of Democratic senators will put forward legislation on 23 September calling for US sanctions
on individuals and organizations facilitating Israel’s ongoing, illegal E1
settlement project in the occupied West Bank.
The bill would place sanctions on any company, person,
or entity responsible for or complicit in the construction of illegal
settlements linked to the E1 project.
This would also include the submission of tenders
linked to the E1, according to the legislation.
Senators Chris Coons of Delaware, Elizabeth Warren of
Massachusetts, Ron Wyden of Oregon, and Ruben Gallego of Arizona are the main
sponsors of this bill.
“As Palestinian civilians face a campaign of
devastation and fear from violent extremist settlers, the US must send a
strong message that this behavior is unacceptable and that it remains committed
to freedom, security, prosperity and self-determination for all Israelis and
Palestinians,” said Coons.
The Democratic Party currently holds 47 seats in the
Senate, which is made up of 100 members. Recent polls indicate they could
secure majorities in midterm elections, planned for November.
The bill coincides with a rapid advancement of the
Israeli settlement project, which was paused for years due to international
opposition but has now been revived.
Israel recently tripled the number of housing units it
will begin constructing in the illegal E1 settlement.
According to an Israeli rights group, Tel Aviv has added 2,167 additional housing units to its tender for the
E1 settlement expansion plan, after an initial tender was issued in August to
build 1,234 units in the Jewish settlement.
This brings the total number of illegal housing units
to 3,401 units.
The revival of the E1 project came last year. In
August 2025, Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich announced the plan,
approving construction of housing units and vowing at the time to “bury the
idea” of a Palestinian state.
Netanyahu signed the plan back into motion in September last
year.
The E1 settlement project – which aims to link
occupied East Jerusalem, viewed as integral to any future Palestinian state, to
the illegal Maale Adumim settlement – had been frozen for decades as a result
of strong opposition from the international community.
The advancement of the plan comes as settler terror
attacks and illegal land grabs are at an all-time high in the occupied West
Bank.
No hay comentarios:
Publicar un comentario