Almost All GOP Senators Block Resolution To Require Report On Israeli Violence In West Bank
Almost every Republican senator shot down a resolution Tuesday that sought answers regarding increased violence in the West Bank by the Israelis.
Almost every Republican senator shot down a resolution Tuesday that sought answers regarding increased violence in the West Bank by the Israelis.
The resolution would have required the State Department to provide lawmakers with reports on violence and human rights violations in the territory. It failed in a 51 to 47 vote, with almost all Republican senators voting against it.
Republican Kentucky Sen. Rand Paul voted “yes” on the measure, while Democratic Pennsylvania Sen. John Fetterman voted against it. Republican Sens. Dan Sullivan of Alaska and Bill Cassidy of Louisiana did not vote.
Democratic Sens. Chris Van Hollen of Maryland and Tim Kaine of Virginia, along with independent Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders, introduced the measure in August. The three senators were joined by eight of their colleagues, including Democratic Massachusetts Sens. Elizabeth Warren and Ed Markey.
Van Hollen vowed Democrats would not stop fighting for “justice.”
“Tonight, 47 Senators supported my resolution to get accountability for the 9 Americans killed on the West Bank & for Palestinians who face injustices daily,” Van Hollen said on X. “That’s more support than we’ve ever had in this fight. Republicans blocked us, but we won’t stop until we get justice.”
“In January 2024 I forced a vote to investigate human rights abuses by Israel in Gaza. Only 11 Senators supported it,” Sanders said on X Tuesday. “Today, 47 Senators voted on a similar resolution to investigate Israel’s actions in the West Bank. Listen to the American people: NO MORE MILITARY AID TO ISRAEL.”
The resolution stated that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government was not held accountable for the deaths of the nine Americans. Omar Assad, a 78-year-old U.S. citizen, was stopped at a checkpoint in the village of Jiljilya, dragged by Israeli soldiers out of his vehicle and died of a stress-induced heart attack while left lying on the ground with his hands bound behind his back, according to the resolution.