{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "rows": [["https://www.booker.senate.gov/news/press/booker-and-goldman-push-biden-administration-to-address-israeli-settler-violence-in-the-west-bank", "Booker and Goldman Push Biden Administration to Address Israeli Settler Violence in the West Bank", "2023-11-16", "2023", "2023-11", "Democrat", "Senate", "NJ", "Cory A. Booker", "B001288", "www.booker.senate.gov", "booker", "https://www.booker.senate.gov/news/press", "scraper", "Washington, DC\u2013 Senator Cory Booker (D- NJ) and Representative Dan Goldman (D-NY-10) today called on President Joe Biden and his administration to not lose sight of the increasing danger posed by Israeli settler violence in the West Bank. As the Israeli government responds to legitimate threats from Hamas, Hezbollah, and others, Goldman and Booker are urging the Biden Administration to make clear to our Israeli allies that extremist settler violence poses a direct threat to the objectives of preventing the war from escalating into a wider regional conflict, protecting innocent Israeli and Palestinian civilians, and facilitating the flow of desperately needed humanitarian assistance.\n\nRepresentative Goldman and Senator Booker were the only two members of Congress who were in Israel when Hamas attacked on October 7.\n\nSince October 7, daily settler violence against Palestinian civilians has increased by over 130 percent.\n\n\u201cAs your administration tirelessly works to prevent the expansion of this conflict, we write to specifically highlight the threat that violence in the West Bank \u2013 especially vigilante violence by Israeli settlers \u2013 poses to those efforts, Israel\u2019s near-term security, Palestinian human rights, and long-term regional peace,\u201d the members wrote.\n\nCongressman Goldman and Senator Booker warned that settler violence in the West Bank not only pose a grave threat to an immediate peace deal, but the long-term prospect of peace through a two-state solution as well. Whether it be the Palestinian Authority or another entity, Goldman and Booker believe that any government in the West Bank and Gaza will require intense international support, reforms, and legitimacy to deliver for the Palestinian people.\n\n\u201cWe strongly believe that a two-state solution remains the only genuine option to achieve a just, secure, and prosperous future for both Israelis and Palestinians,\u201d the members continued. \u201cHowever, settler violence against Palestinian civilians destroys the very seeds of trust and cooperation needed to make progress toward a two-state outcome and an enduring peace in the region. For example, settler violence presents a significant challenge to the viability of the Palestinian Authority (PA), a critical partner for West Bank security, the future of Gaza, and regional peace efforts.\u201d\n\nThe members also wrote expressing concern that members of the Israeli government has not done enough to curb settler violence or to stop U.S. provided weapons from being by settlers to target innocent Palestinian civilians in the West Bank.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T01:01:09Z"]], "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://www.booker.senate.gov/news/press/booker-and-goldman-push-biden-administration-to-address-israeli-settler-violence-in-the-west-bank"], "units": {}, "query_ms": 0.5983589217066765, "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"}