J Street Welcomes New Senate Legislation to Sanction E1 Settlement Development

Washington, DC – A bill introduced today by Senators Chris Coons, Elizabeth Warren, Ron Wyden and Ruben Gallego, along with 15 additional original cosponsors, would impose targeted financial sanctions on companies and other entities that facilitate, finance or provide material support for the development of Israeli settlements in the E1 region of the West Bank. The legislation comes as Israel moves forward with two tenders for housing construction in E1, one that opened in August for 1,234 housing units, and another covering 2,167 additional units that is scheduled to open next month.

In response to the announcement of the bill, J Street President Jeremy Ben-Ami issued the following statement:

“This bill marks the end of the era in which right-wing Israeli governments could ignore US demands to halt settlement expansion and expect American politicians to fall in line.

For three decades, Republican and Democratic administrations alike treated construction in E1 as a clear red line because of the devastating blow it would deal to the possibility of a negotiated resolution to the conflict. President Trump’s failure to enforce that same standard is shameful, and we applaud Senators Coons, Warren, Wyden and Gallego for taking a clear stand to preserve the possibility of peace and long-term security for Israelis and Palestinians.

Construction in E1 would sever East Jerusalem from the rest of the West Bank and further fragment major Palestinian population centers, undermining the viability of a future Palestinian state. We call on all senators who share our goal of advancing a peaceful resolution to the conflict to support this legislation.

J Street has consistently opposed broad boycotts of Israel while supporting targeted measures focused on settlement activity beyond the Green Line. This bill reflects that distinction.”