Padilla, Schiff, Colleagues Statement Opposing Israeli Government’s E1 Settlement Tenders

Statement follows a joint effort with 45 Senators urging Prime Minister Netanyahu to immediately crack down on settler violence and settler expansion in the West Bank

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, U.S. Senators Alex Padilla and Adam Schiff (both D-Calif.), along with Senator Ruben Gallego (D-Ariz.) and 27 Democratic colleagues, issued the following statement opposing the Israeli government's decision to issue tenders for the construction of 1,234 housing units in the E1 settlement project:

"Construction in the E1 area would sever East Jerusalem from major Palestinian population centers and make a viable contiguous Palestinian state under a two-state solution far harder to achieve. For decades, Republican and Democratic administrations have recognized that development in E1 would seriously jeopardize the prospects for a Palestinian state. That concern remains just as urgent today.

"At a time when settler violence - including violence against Palestinian Americans - is reaching unprecedented levels in the West Bank and severe restrictions continue to constrain Palestinian movement and the Palestinian economy, moving forward with construction in E1 risks further destabilizing the West Bank and making a negotiated resolution even more difficult.

"We urge the Israeli government to immediately rescind these tenders, halt settlement expansion in the West Bank, and take urgent action to rein in settler violence. Without a change in course, Israel risks weakening its international standing and undermining its prospects for long-term security. We also urge the Trump administration to make full use of its existing authorities, including targeted sanctions on individuals and entities.

"The United States must remain committed to a two-state solution that delivers lasting peace and security for both the Jewish, democratic State of Israel and for a future Palestinian state. Construction in E1 would take us further away from that goal."

In addition to Padilla, Schiff, and Gallego, the statement was issued by Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.), Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), and Senators Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.), Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), Tim Kaine (D-Va.), Chris Coons (D-Del.), Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii), Cory Booker (D-N.J.), Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), Jacky Rosen (D-Nev.), Patty Murray (D-Wash.), Jack Reed (D-R.I.), Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.), Mark Warner (D-Va.), Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), Ed Markey (D-Mass.), Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.), Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.), Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), Gary Peters (D-Mich.), Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.), Mark Kelly (D-Ariz.), Peter Welch (D-Vt.), Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.), Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-Del.), Elissa Slotkin (D-Mich.), and Angela Alsobrooks (D-Md.).

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