{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "rows": [["https://sarajacobs.house.gov/news/press-releases/jacobs-castro-dean-beyer-casar-escobar-to-introduce-sanctions-on-drivers-of-settlement-expansion", "Jacobs, Castro, Dean, Beyer, Casar, Escobar to Introduce Sanctions on Drivers of Settlement Expansion", "2026-09-30", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "House", "CA", "Sara Jacobs", "J000305", "sarajacobs.house.gov", "sarajacobs", "https://sarajacobs.house.gov/news/press-releases", "scraper", "Reps. Sara Jacobs (CA-51), Joaquin Castro (TX-20), Madeleine Dean (PA-04), Don Beyer (VA-08), Greg Casar (TX-35), and Veronica Escobar (TX-16) introduced legislation to impose sanctions on individuals and entities building or expanding settlements in the West Bank and Gaza. The Stop the Settlements Act would stop the construction of new settlements or expansion of existing Israeli settlements and outposts in the West Bank and Gaza through the use of sanctions and a prohibition on the importation of goods made in these settlements and outposts. Stopping the construction of new settlements or expansion of Israeli settlements in the West Bank and Gaza would protect Palestinians from dispossession of their land and help create a pathway to peace, where both Israelis and Palestinians are able to fully exercise their right to self-determination.\n\n\u201cPushing Palestinians out of their homes and off their land in Gaza and the West Bank is one of the greatest obstacles to a lasting pathway to peace,\u201d said Congresswoman Jacobs. \u201cAs long as the U.S. stands idly by, we\u2019re knowingly supporting Israel\u2019s coordinated strategy to consolidate Israeli control and prevent Palestinian statehood. We have another choice: use our tools and leverage to help make peace and security for Israelis, Palestinians, and everyone in the region a reality. That\u2019s why I\u2019m proud to co-lead the Stop the Settlements Act, which would require the President to sanction individuals and entities that build or expand settlements in the West Bank and Gaza. This is a reasonable and necessary step to uphold international law, protect civilians, de-escalate violence, and preserve the possibility of lasting peace, security, and stability.\u201d\n\n\u201cUnder Netanyahu\u2019s government, settlers are engaged in a violent land grab that\u2019s ripping Palestinians from their land,\u201d said Congressman Castro. \u201cThe record expansion of Israeli settlements in the West Bank continues to be one of the greatest impediments to peace. Democrats must face this with urgency\u2014act now or watch the prospect of Palestinian self-determination slip away forever. Congress should and can be using every tool we have available, including sanctions. The Stop the Settlements Act gives any person or company looking to take Palestinian land in the West Bank or Gaza a choice: pursue settlements or do business with the United States. The American people have seen the reality on the ground in the West Bank and Gaza, and expect their elected officials to take action. In the coming months and in the next Congress, I will push for the conditions under which security and a lasting peace is possible.\u201d\n\n\u201cThe continued construction of Israeli settlements and staking of new outposts in the West Bank and Gaza is a violation of international law. They\u2019re also part of a deliberate, expressed strategy by Prime Minister Netanyahu and his allies to geographically isolate Palestinian communities, block the possibility of a contiguous state, and prevent the Palestinian people from being able to exercise their rights to self-determination,\u201d said Rep. Dean. \u201cSettler organizations and people who illegally push onto Palestinian land, harassing \u2014 and even killing legal residents \u2014 are actively undermining the peace process and prolonging the current violence. These settlers fund their activities in part through the sale of goods abroad, which this legislation would prohibit, while also authorizing sanctions on some of the worst offenders of international law. It is time that the United States joined our allies \u2014 such as the United Kingdom, France, and Canada \u2014 in taking action to help preserve dignity and self-determination for the Palestinian people, which is essential for progress toward peace.\u201d\n\n\u201cThe continued expansion of illegal settlements in the occupied Palestinian territories illustrates the contempt Israel\u2019s government has for international law and longstanding U.S. policy,\u201d said Rep. Beyer. \u201cBy accelerating this campaign of violence and theft, particularly in the E1 corridor bordering East Jerusalem, the Israeli government is making clear its intent to fatally undermine the viability of a future Palestinian state. The U.S. cannot and should not accept this explicit effort of illegal territorial expansion, which would make a negotiated resolution to this intractable conflict forever out of reach. This legislation puts teeth on what has been clear U.S. policy for decades and sends a strong message that we will not tolerate the illegal settlement movement any longer.\u201d\n\n\u201cSettlement expansion displaces Palestinians, violates international law, and prevents peace for Israelis and Palestinians alike,\u201d said Congressman Casar. \u201cThe Stop the Settlements Act would prohibit the construction and expansion of settlements in the West Bank and Gaza. Congress must work toward lasting peace in the region by ending the occupation and genocide.\u201d\n\nBACKGROUND:\n\nSince December 2022, the Israeli government has approved over 100 new settlements in the West Bank, and Israeli settlers have established almost 200 additional outposts. In comparison, only six settlements were approved in the previous three decades. In recent years, senior Israeli officials have openly called for the re-establishment of settlements in Gaza.\n\nThese settlements, built on Palestinian land, are one of the biggest impediments to peace and to Palestinian self-determination.\n\nThe Stop the Settlements Act would address the unprecedented growth of settlements by sanctioning any foreign entity or individual that engages with activity for the establishment of new Israeli settlements or outposts in the West Bank or Gaza, including developing infrastructure, construction the settlement area known as E1, or facilitating Israeli civilians onto settlements. The bill would also put a ban on imports of settlements goods. This would mirror and complement efforts currently being taken by countries such as the United Kingdom, France, Canada, the Netherlands, and Spain.\n\nIf enacted, the legislation would lead to essentially a defacto settlement freeze with no new settlement construction in the West Bank, while also giving the President the authority to begin going after some of the most problematic and destabilizing settlements and outposts in the West Bank.\n\nThe Stop the Settlements Act has gained support from stakeholders with the shared goal of stopping settlement expansion and ensuring Palestinian self-determination and security for Israel:\n\nJeremy Ben-Ami, President, J Street: \u201cAfter more than 50 years of Israel disregarding American and other international warnings to stop expanding settlements, it is time for action. We are grateful to Congressman Castro and the other cosponsors for sending a clear signal that Israeli efforts to prevent a Palestinian state will be met with material consequences.\u201d\n\nMargaret DeReus, Executive Director of IMEU Policy Project: \u201cThe US government has enabled Israeli settlement expansion for too long without any meaningful repercussions to the detriment of Palestinian lives, including Palestinian Americans that live in Palestine. One of the first things the Trump administration did was reverse previous sanctions, and while they continue to turn a blind eye, this bill would impose real consequences on those who support or engage in settlement expansion, in line with international law and our closest allies. This would include banning anyone from importing any goods produced in any Israeli settlement or outpost. We thank Congressman Castro for being a leader in the fight to protect basic Palestinian rights.\u201d\n\nHadar Susskind, President and CEO, New Jewish Narrative: \u201cThis bill fills a crucial void. The Trump administration has failed to take action that would stop the Israeli government from executing its reckless agenda of land grabs and annexation. Now Congress has the opportunity to step up and close that gap. This is what real American leadership looks like.\u201d\n\nThis bill is also endorsed by American Committee for Middle East Rights; A New Policy; Center for International Policy; Friends Committee on National Legislation; Refugees International; Win Without War.\n\nCo-sponsors of the bill include: Mary Gay Scanlon (PA-05), Jared Huffman (CA-02), Derek Tran (CA-45), Becca Balint (VT-AL), Jill Tokuda (HI-02), Nydia Vel\u00e1zquez (NY-07), Troy Carter (LA-02), Paul Tonko (NY-20), Sydney Kamlager-Dove (CA-37), Jim McGovern (MA-02), Mark Pocan (WI-02), Lloyd Doggett (TX-37), Jan Schakowsky (IL-09), Pramila Jayapal (WA-07), Chellie Pingree (ME-01), Sean Casten (IL-06), Emily Randall (WA-06), Andrea Salinas (OR-06), Maxwell Frost (FL-10), Stephen Lynch (MA-08), Mark DeSaulnier (CA-10), Ro Khanna (CA-17), Val Hoyle (OR-04), Adelita Grijalva (AZ-07), Kristen McDonald Rivet (MI-08), Melanie Stansbury (NM-01), Chris Deluzio (PA-17), Salud Carbajal (CA-24), Rosa DeLauro (CT-03), Analilia Mejia (NJ-11), Lateefah Simon (CA-12), Bennie Thompson (MS-02), Mark Takano (CA-39), and Maxine Dexter (OR-03).\n\nRead the full bill text and one-pager here and here.\n\n###", 1, "2026-10-01T11:23:28Z", "2026-10-01T11:25:15Z"]], "columns": ["url", "title", "date", "year", "month", "party", "chamber", "state", "member_name", "bioguide_id", "domain", "scraper", "source", "date_source", "text", "has_text", "collected_at", "updated_at"], "primary_keys": ["url"], "primary_key_values": ["https://sarajacobs.house.gov/news/press-releases/jacobs-castro-dean-beyer-casar-escobar-to-introduce-sanctions-on-drivers-of-settlement-expansion"], "units": {}, "query_ms": 2.2019888274371624, "source": "dwillis/congress-press", "source_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press", "license": "MIT", "license_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press/blob/main/LICENSE"}