Pro-Israel Democrats Decry Settler Violence in West Bank Amid Political Backlash
As Israeli settlers intensify violent assaults on Palestinian civilians in the West Bank, often with Israeli forces standing idly by, condemnations are surging in the United States. This criticism now includes Democratic legislators and public figures who have historically been steadfast defenders of Israel, highlighting a significant shift in political dynamics.
Escalating Violence and Political Statements
In recent days, dozens of settlers have engaged in apparently coordinated attacks, setting fire to homes and vehicles and assaulting Palestinians. Since the beginning of the month, Israeli settlers and police have killed at least ten Palestinian civilians in the occupied West Bank. Among the victims were two young brothers and their parents, who were attacked while returning from a Ramadan shopping trip.
Ritchie Torres, a Democratic representative from New York and one of Israel's most vocal advocates in Congress, issued a statement this week declaring that "the crisis of extremist settler violence in the West Bank must be confronted, and the perpetrators must be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law." He emphasized a policy of "zero tolerance for violent extremism, no matter what form it takes." Torres is currently facing re-election, with his opponents making his support for Israel a central issue in their campaigns.
Daniel Goldman, another pro-Israel Democratic representative seeking re-election in New York, also condemned the violence, labeling it an "outrage." He urged US House Speaker Mike Johnson to bring proposed legislation to a vote that would impose sanctions on individuals "undermining prospects for a two-state solution by committing illegal violent acts." Goldman criticized the Trump administration for rescinding sanctions against violent settlers that had been issued under President Joe Biden, stating, "This violence is anti-democratic and unacceptable. The Israeli government must hold those responsible accountable, as the rule of law requires."
Financial Backing and Voter Sentiment
Both Torres and Goldman have received millions in campaign support from the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (Aipac). However, voters are becoming increasingly critical of the Israel lobby, with several candidates distancing themselves from it and pledging to refuse its contributions. Other Aipac-backed politicians who condemned settler violence this week include:
- Ruben Gallego, an Arizona senator, who called on the Israeli government to "stop being complicit."
- Greg Stanton, an Arizona congressman, who described the attacks as "acts of terrorism."
- Shontel Brown, a Democratic congresswoman from Ohio, who accused Trump of "green-lighting settler violence," adding, "This has to stop."
- Jacky Rosen, a Nevada senator and Aipac recipient, who stated that "violence against Palestinian civilians in the West Bank is a national security threat to Israel and must be treated as such."
Outside Congress, pro-Israel television host Chris Cuomo expressed shock in a social media post, while commentator Batya Ungar-Sargon called for the Israeli government to "crack down on this sickening settler terrorism right now."
Broader Context and Political Implications
A Guardian analysis published recently revealed that Israel has not prosecuted any of its citizens for killing Palestinian civilians in the occupied West Bank since the start of this decade, with settlers often coordinating attacks alongside the army. Despite peak US-Israeli military cooperation, such as in joint operations against Iran, public support for Israel in the US has plummeted. An NBC News poll earlier this month found that two-thirds of Democrats now sympathize more with Palestinians than Israelis, a dramatic shift with significant implications for upcoming primaries and midterm elections. In contrast, 68% of Republicans remain more supportive of Israel.
No Republicans have commented on the latest string of settler attacks. Yousef Munayyer, head of the Palestine/Israel program at Arab Center DC, noted, "Israel's backers in the United States, especially among liberals and Democrats, understand how much of a political liability supporting Israel has become." He added that politicians backed by pro-Israel donors but facing a pro-Palestinian electorate are "trapped between the money they've relied on to make their campaigns work and the voters they actually need to win." Condemning settler violence, he believes, allows these Democrats to express discontent without challenging the Israeli state directly.
Aipac did not immediately respond to requests for comment, but spokesperson Deryn Sousa told Politico that "efforts to push pro-Israel Democrats out of the political process are alarming and fundamentally undemocratic." It remains unclear whether the Trump administration has addressed the recent attacks in discussions with Israeli officials, with conflicting reports about a call involving JD Vance and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. The White House and State Department have not commented on the violence or any related diplomatic talks.
A United Nations report this month warned that the Israeli government has accelerated the expansion of illegal settlements in the West Bank and East Jerusalem over the past year, forcibly displacing approximately 36,000 Palestinians. The report found that violence escalated last year, with Israeli authorities playing a central role in directing, participating in, or enabling such conduct.
