WASHINGTON — U.S. Senate Republicans on Tuesday blocked a resolution that would have required President Donald Trump's administration to report to Congress on escalating violence in the occupied West Bank.
The procedural vote failed 47 to 51, largely along party lines. Every Republican except Senator Rand Paul of Kentucky voted against the measure. All Democrats except Senator John Fetterman of Pennsylvania voted in favor.
The resolution would have required the State Department to submit a report detailing killings of U.S. citizens by Israeli settlers or Israeli security forces in the West Bank, and to assess the overall human rights situation in the territory.
Democratic Senator Chris Van Hollen of Maryland, the resolution's lead sponsor, said it was "long past time" for Congress to examine human rights in the West Bank. He cited nine American deaths since 2022 as a key concern.
"It is our responsibility to ensure recipients of U.S. taxpayer dollars act in line with our laws and our values," Van Hollen said.
Republicans opposed the measure, saying Democrats were attempting to score political points while Israel faces threats. Montana Republican Senator Steve Daines urged colleagues to reject it.
"I urge my colleagues to vote no on this resolution so we can stand with our ally Israel as they beat back the scourge of Iranian-backed terrorism," Daines said.
While the resolution would not have directly cut aid to Israel, failure by the administration to deliver the mandated report could have triggered restrictions on future assistance. Israel is the largest cumulative recipient of U.S. foreign assistance since World War Two.
Israel has occupied the West Bank since 1967. The United Nations and most countries consider settlements in the territory illegal under international law governing military occupation. Israel disputes this view, regarding the territory as disputed rather than occupied.
Violence by Jewish settlers against Palestinians in the West Bank has increased sharply this year. Some Democrats, alongside a few Republicans, have previously called for curbs on military aid to Israel over its conduct in the territory.
