US Democratic Members of Congress Propose Sanctions Against Israeli Settlers

Washington (ANTARA) - Six members of the United States House of Representatives from the Democratic Party are scheduled to introduce a bill on Thursday that would impose sanctions on individuals and entities involved in the construction or expansion of Israeli settlements in the West Bank and Gaza.

Representatives Joaquin Castro, Madeleine Dean, Don Beyer, Greg Casar, Sara Jacobs, and Veronica Escobar are the sponsors of the Stop the Settlements Act.

The bill aims to halt the development of new settlements as well as the expansion of existing Israeli settlements and outposts through targeted sanctions.

The bill also proposes a ban on the import of goods produced in these settlements and outposts.

Proponents of the bill state that the measure is intended to prevent further displacement of Palestinians and to maintain a path towards a political solution that allows both Israelis and Palestinians to achieve self-determination.

Castro, one of the bill’s sponsors, criticised the Israeli government and settlement activities in the West Bank.

“Under the (Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin) Netanyahu administration, settlers are carrying out forced land seizures that displace Palestinians from their land,” Castro said in a statement.

He described the ongoing expansion of Israeli settlements as a major obstacle to peace and called on Congress to use sanctions as an instrument to address settlement development.

“Democrats must confront this immediately—act now or witness the opportunity for Palestinian self-determination vanish forever,” said Castro.