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WASHINGTON: US Senate \u200bRepublicans on Tuesday blocked a bid to require President Donald Trump\u2019s administration to report to Congress on increasing violence in the occupied West Bank, including the deaths of American citizens.<\/p>\n
The procedural vote was the latest sign of friction between US Democrats and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu\u2019s government over Israel\u2019s treatment of Palestinians and of Republicans\u2019 continuing strong support for his coalition.<\/p>\n
The Senate voted 47 to 51 to block the resolution. The vote was largely along party lines, with every Republican voting no except for Rand Paul of Kentucky \u200cand every \u200cDemocrat except John Fetterman of Pennsylvania in favor.<\/p>\n
The resolution would \u200bhave \u200crequired \u2060the \u200bState Department \u2060to report to Congress on the killing of US citizens by Israeli settlers or Israeli security forces in the West Bank and to assess the human rights situation.<\/p>\n
Violence by Jewish settlers against Palestinians in the territory has risen sharply this year.<\/p>\n
While the resolution would not have cut aid to Israel, the largest cumulative recipient of US foreign assistance since World War Two, a failure by the administration to deliver the report could have triggered restrictions on \u2060aid.<\/p>\n
Democratic Senator Chris Van Hollen of Maryland, the measure\u2019s lead sponsor, \u200chad argued that it was \u201clong past time\u201d to examine \u200chuman rights in the West Bank, including the deaths of \u200bnine Americans since 2022.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt is our \u200cresponsibility to ensure recipients of US taxpayer dollars act in line with our laws \u200cand our values,\u201d he said in a statement, referring to Israel.<\/p>\n
Republicans accused Democrats of seeking to score political points as Israel is under threat, seven months after US and Israeli forces launched airstrikes that began an ongoing conflict with Iran.<\/p>\n
\u201cI urge my colleagues to vote no on this \u200cresolution so we can stand with our ally Israel as they beat back the scourge of Iranian-backed terrorism,\u201d Montana Republican Senator Steve Daines \u2060said in a \u2060speech.<\/p>\n
ELECTIONS LOOM<\/strong><\/p>\n The vote took place weeks before US midterm elections on November 3, in which polls show Trump\u2019s Republicans could lose their congressional majorities, signaling a potential shift in Israel policy in the new Congress.<\/p>\n Polls show the war with Iran is not popular with Americans, who are frustrated with higher energy prices resulting from the conflict.<\/p>\n Netanyahu, who has long aligned himself with US Republicans, faces an election in Israel on October 27, which public opinion polls show his right-wing coalition could lose.<\/p>\n Israel has occupied the West Bank since 1967. The UN and most countries consider settlements there illegal under international law governing military occupation. Israel rejects this, viewing the territory as disputed rather than occupied.<\/p>\n Some Democrats \u2014 \u200band a few Republicans \u2014 also have \u200bcalled for curbs on military aid to Israel over its conduct of the war in Gaza, with tens of thousands of Palestinians killed and much of the enclave in ruins.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n