The U.S. Senate has blocked a resolution that would have required President Donald Trump’s administration to report to Congress on alleged human rights violations and rising violence in the West Bank.
The measure, introduced by Democratic Senator Chris Van Hollen, was defeated in a 47-51 procedural vote on Tuesday, largely along party lines.
The proposal would have required the U.S. State Department to report on the killing of American citizens by Israeli settlers or Israeli security forces in the West Bank and provide an assessment of the wider human rights situation.
Van Hollen said nine Americans had been killed in the territory since 2022 and argued that Congress had a responsibility to examine the conduct of countries receiving U.S. assistance.
“It is our responsibility to ensure recipients of U.S. taxpayer dollars act in line with our laws and our values,” he said in a statement.
The resolution would not have immediately reduced U.S. assistance to Israel. However, failure by the administration to provide the requested report could have led to restrictions on aid.
Every Republican senator voted against the measure except Rand Paul of Kentucky, while every Democrat backed it except John Fetterman of Pennsylvania.
Republicans criticised the proposal, arguing that it came at a time when Israel was facing security threats linked to the continuing conflict with Iran.
Republican Senator Steve Daines urged senators to reject the resolution and support Israel as it confronts what he described as Iranian-backed terrorism.
Violence by Israeli settlers against Palestinians in the West Bank has risen sharply this year.
Israel has controlled the territory since 1967. The United Nations and most countries regard Israeli settlements in the West Bank as illegal under international law governing military occupation. Israel disputes that interpretation and considers the territory disputed rather than occupied.
The issue has also added to divisions in Washington over U.S. military support for Israel, with some Democratic lawmakers and a smaller number of Republicans calling for restrictions on assistance over Israel’s conduct in Gaza.
The Senate vote took place just weeks before the U.S. midterm elections scheduled for 3 November.
The issue of U.S. policy towards Israel has become increasingly prominent in Congress amid the continuing conflict with Iran, higher energy prices and disagreements over Washington’s military and diplomatic support for Israel.
Israel is also due to hold an election on 27 October, placing both countries’ domestic political debates over security and foreign policy under increased scrutiny.
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