American Democrats Urge Netanyahu to Address Settler Violence

The News

A group of American Democratic members of Congress sent an urgent letter to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu urging him to take immediate action to stop the violence perpetrated by Israeli settlers in the West Bank. In the letter, sent on September 24, 2026, members of Congress expressed deep concern over the continuing escalation of settler violence in the West Bank, which has resulted in the death and injury of many Americans.

The members of Congress stated that settler violence in the West Bank has become a threat to the daily safety of Palestinians in large parts of the West Bank. They added that they are concerned about the increasing attacks by settlers against Palestinians and Israeli security forces. According to the data provided by members of Congress, settler attacks increased by 27% in 2025, while serious attacks rose by 63% in the first half of 2026 compared to the same period in the previous year.

Members of Congress also pointed to UN figures indicating that 1,122 Palestinians, including civilians and combatants, were killed in the West Bank and East Jerusalem between October 7, 2023, and July 24, 2026. They also mentioned that 67 Israelis were killed by Palestinians in the West Bank since the beginning of 2023.

Members of Congress noted that settler violence has led to the displacement of residents from 107 communities since January 2023, affecting approximately 6,000 Palestinians. They also mentioned that more than 1,380 incidents linked to settlers have been recorded by the UN in over 250 Palestinian communities since the start of 2026.

Members of Congress pointed out that settler violence has restricted the movement of Palestinians, resulted in physical assaults, and deprived them of agricultural land. They also noted that nine American citizens have been killed in the West Bank since January 2022, and no one has been held accountable for these nine deaths. Many members directly heard from constituents about American citizens being threatened or harassed without cause by settlers.

The members of Congress called for three specific measures by the Netanyahu government. First, they called for the Israeli police and the Israeli Defense Forces to treat all attacks equally when protecting Palestinian communities from attacks, regardless of who the attacker is. Second, they called for the establishment of a transparent and credible mechanism for investigating and prosecuting violent acts against Palestinians, including American Palestinians. They also urged Israel to complete investigations into the nine deaths of American citizens mentioned in the letter.

Third, the members of Congress called for Israel to suspend approvals of new settlements and continue to dismantle illegal outposts. In the letter, they wrote, “Restoring the rule of law in the West Bank is in the mutual interest of security for Israelis and Palestinians.” They also called on the Netanyahu government to ensure that American citizens living or visiting in the West Bank under US control receive proper security and property protection.