Key facts
- US Senate Republicans blocked a resolution requiring a report on violence in the occupied West Bank.
- The resolution failed by a vote of 47 to 51, largely along party lines.
- Nine American citizens have been killed in the occupied West Bank since 2022.
- The measure was led by Democratic Senator Chris Van Hollen of Maryland.
- Republicans argued against the resolution, stating it was an attempt to score political points as Israel faces threats.
The US Senate on Tuesday blocked a resolution that would have required the State Department to report to Congress on increasing violence in the occupied West Bank, including the deaths of American citizens. The procedural vote, which failed 47 to 51, largely followed party lines, with most Republicans voting against it and some Democrats joining them.
Led by Democratic Senator Chris Van Hollen of Maryland, the resolution invoked Section 502B of the Foreign Assistance Act, which allows senators to demand human rights reports from countries receiving US military aid. The proposal sought a report within 30 days detailing the circumstances of the killings of Americans and assessing the broader human rights situation in the territory.
Proponents of the resolution highlighted the cases of nine Americans killed in the West Bank since 2022, arguing for accountability and adherence to US laws and values. Human rights organizations have documented a sharp rise in settler violence against Palestinians this year. Republicans, however, accused Democrats of seeking political points amid ongoing conflicts and urged support for Israel as an ally.
The vote occurred weeks before US midterm elections and ahead of an election in Israel, with polls indicating potential shifts in political power and policy.