A block of six Democratic congressmen from the United States House of Representatives has announced the introduction of a bill that aims to impose sanctions on foreign individuals and entities involved in the construction or expansion of Israeli settlements in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip. The proposal, registered as "Stop the Settlements Act," aims to curb "land appropriation" and "preserve the viability of a future Palestinian state."
The provisions of the initiative order the President of the United States to impose asset freezes, as well as deny or revoke visas to those foreign individuals or companies that, starting from September 30, 2026, participate directly or indirectly in the creation of new settlements.
The text also contemplates sanctions for those who promote infrastructure intended to support the expansion of these colonies, with a specific reference to the area known as "E1," to the east of Jerusalem. Alongside individual measures, the law explicitly bans the entry into the United States of any product or merchandise produced, in whole or in part, in these settlements.
The proponents of the proposal — Don Beyer, Joaquin Castro, Madeleine Dean, Greg Casar, Sara Jacobs, and Veronica Escobar — have explained in a statement that this is a direct reaction to the policies of Benjamin Netanyahu's government. Beyer has stated that the permanent expansion of the settlements reflects Israel's "contempt" for International Law and for U.S. policy, while Castro has denounced a "violent land grab" by settlers, which he has pointed out as one of the "greatest impediments to peace."
According to the figures included by the legislators in the proposal, since December 2022 the Israeli government has given the green light to more than a hundred new settlements and settlers have established nearly 200 additional outposts.