Rep. Smith Letter Urging Further West Bank Sanctions

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Last week, Representative Adam Smith (D-Wash) sent a letter to President Joe Biden urging the United States to impose sanctions on individuals and entities destabilizing the Middle East.

See the full letter below.

Dear President Biden,

I write to express my deep concern over escalating violence in the West Bank and the continued expansion of Israeli settlements. In order to bring us closer to a path to peace in the region and the ultimate goal of a two-state solution, I urge you to impose further sanctions on individuals and entities destabilizing the West Bank.

The only way out of the vicious cycle of regional conflict is by forming a coalition with the U.S., Israel, Saudi Arabia, U.A.E., Jordan, Qatar, and other Arab states as a deterrence to Iran. This coalition will never form without a future for the Palestinian people. While I understand Israel's motivations to respond to the threat from Iran and their proxies in the region, I am adamantly opposed to Israel's approach to the West Bank.

Israel's actions in the West Bank threaten peace and stability in the region and have no support under international law. Prime Minister Netanyahu, Finance Minister Smotrich, and National Security Minister Ben-Gvir have promoted rapid Israeli settlement expansion, including retroactive legalization of outposts, and tacitly have enabled settler violence.

I support your issuance and implementation of Executive Order (E.O.) 14115, which imposes sanctions on individuals and entities undermining peace, security, and stability in the West Bank.1 Your administration has rightly used this Executive Order to crack down on some of the worst perpetrators of violence, both Israeli and Palestinian, including Palestinian terrorist group Lions' Den.

I urge your administration to more forcefully leverage E.O. 14115, especially regarding entities such as Amana, in order to discourage Israeli settlement expansion and settler violence. Amana has provided critical support for the settlement movement for decades and is responsible for the construction of 83 of the 146 settlements in the West Bank.3 Notably, Amana is also funding the proliferation of now-sanctioned outposts considered illegal under Israeli law,4 including the expansion of pastoral farms in the West Bank that facilitate the rapid seizure of large swaths of Palestinian lland.5 These outposts and farms are particularly associated with extremist settler violence.

The U.S. imposing additional sanctions under E.O. 14115 would send a strong signal to the Israeli government that unilateral and often violent seizure of Palestinian lands, whether by the Israeli government or Israeli citizens, cannot continue with impunity. I appreciate your administration's attention to these matters.

10.10.2024 SMITH Letter on West Bank Sanctions[4123].pdf (415.4 KB)

A full copy of the letter can be found at the link above.