Raskin, DeLauro, Casten, Jacobs and 111 Colleagues Demand Netanyahu Remove Barbed-Wire Fence Blocking Students’ Path from West Bank Village Umm Al-Kheir to School

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, Representatives Jamie Raskin (MD-08), Rosa DeLauro (CT-03), Sean Casten (IL-06) and Sara Jacobs (CA-51) led 111 Members in demanding Israeli Prime Minister Bejamin Netanyahu remove barbed-wire fencing erected by settlers that is blocking students in the West Bank village of Umm Al-Kheir from traveling to their school. In a letter to Prime Minister Netanyahu, the lawmakers called for an end to settler violence and intimidation in violation of international human rights law.

"For over three months, extremists from the nearby settlement of Carmel have maintained a barbed wire fence blocking the path that the children of Umm Al-Kheir use to travel to their school," the lawmakers wrote. "This action, which has benefited from the protection of Israeli soldiers, is a violation of the fundamental right to an education."

Umm Al-Kheir, a Bedouin shepherding community, has faced extremist attacks for years as Israeli settlements have encroached on the village. Across the West Bank, these attacks have intensified as the Israeli military increasingly provides protection to the perpetrators.

In April, children from Umm Al-Kheir first found their path to school blocked by the fencing. Adults from the village called for assistance from Israeli police, who ultimately shot tear gas towards the students following their arrival. One of the victims was the five-year-old son of Awdah Hathaleen, who was killed by a settler during a July 2025 attack on Umm Al-Kheir. Hathaleen was a major contributor to the internationally acclaimed film No Other Land.

"Israeli soldiers' actions exposed over two dozen children to tear gas, raising serious questions about how the Israeli military is abetting extremist violence against Umm Al-Kheir," the lawmakers continued. "Rather than intervening in defense of vulnerable students' basic right to go to school, Israeli military personnel have reportedly been standing along the fence, seemingly granting settlers permission to continue obstructing the road to the school."

While the Israeli military has tried to suggest a longer alternative route for children from Umm Al-Kheir to reach their school, it comes with significant security risks. The alternative route roughly doubles the distance that students need to travel and forces them to pass Carmel, creating even more daily opportunities for negative and traumatizing interactions with settlers.

Rep. Raskin previously led a letter signed by 100 of his colleagues urging Prime Minister Netanyahu to immediately halt plans to demolish buildings, including private homes and a community center, in Umm Al-Kheir.

The letter is also signed by Reps. Nancy Pelosi (CA-11), Gabe Amo (RI-01), Yassamin Ansari (AZ-03), Becca Balint (VT-AL), Donald Beyer (VA-08), Suzanne Bonamici (OR-01), Brendan Boyle (PA-02), Julia Brownley (CA-26), Nikki Budzinski (IL-13), André Carson (IN-07), Troy Carter (LA-02), Greg Casar (TX-35), Joaquin Castro (TX-20), Emanuel Cleaver (MO-05), Steve Cohen (TN-09), Joe Courtney (CT-02), Jasmine Crockett (TX-30), Danny Davis (IL-07), Madeleine Dean (PA-04), Suzan DelBene (WA-01), Chris Deluzio (PA-17), Mark DeSaulnier (CA-10), Maxine Dexter (OR-03), Debbie Dingell (MI-06), Lloyd Doggett (TX-37), Sarah Elfreth (MD-03), Veronica Escobar (TX-16), Dwight Evans (PA-03), Bill Foster (IL-11), Laura Friedman (CA-30), Maxwell Frost (FL-10), John Garamendi (CA-08), Jesús García (IL-04), Sylvia Garcia (TX-29), Jimmy Gomez (CA-34), Adelita Grijalva (AZ-07), Jahana Hayes (CT-05), James Himes (CT-04), Val Hoyle (OR-04), Jared Huffman (CA-02), Jonathan Jackson (IL-01), Pramila Jayapal (WA-07), Henry Johnson (GA-04), Sydney Kamlager-Dove (CA-37), Robin Kelly (IL-02), Ro Khanna (CA-17), Rick Larsen (WA-02), Sam Liccardo (CA-16), Zoe Lofgren (CA-18), Stephen Lynch (MA-08), Sarah McBride (DE-AL), April McClain Delaney (MD-06), Jennifer McClellan (VA-04), Betty McCollum (MN-04), Kristen McDonald Rivet (MI-08), James McGovern (MA-02), LaMonica McIver (NJ-10), Analilia Mejia (NJ-11), Christian Menefee (TX-18), Robert Menendez (NJ-08), Kweisi Mfume (MD-07), Dave Min (CA-47), Gwen Moore (WI-04), Jerrold Nadler (NY-12), Eleanor Holmes Norton (DC-AL), Johnny Olszewski (MD-02), Brittany Pettersen (CO-07), Chellie Pingree (ME-01), Mark Pocan (WI-02), Nellie Pou (NJ-09), Mike Quigley (IL-05), Emily Randall (WA-06), Andrea Salinas (OR-06), Mary Gay Scanlon (PA-05), Janice Schakowsky (IL-09), Kim Schrier (WA-08), Lateefah Simon (CA-12), Mark Takano (CA-39), Bennie Thompson (MS-02), Paul Tonko (NY-20), Derek Tran (CA-45), Nydia Velázquez (NY-07), James Walkinshaw (VA-11), Maxine Waters (CA-43), Bonnie Watson Coleman (NJ-12), Nikema Williams (GA-05), Lois Frankel (FL-22), Judy Chu (CA-28), Alma Adams (NC-12), Robert Garcia (CA-42), Yvette Clarke (NY-09), Teresa Leger Fernandez (NM-03), Seth Moulton (MA-06), Lizzie Fletcher (TX-07), Jimmy Panetta (CA-19), Eric Sorensen (IL-17), Luz Rivas (CA-29), Melanie Stansbury (NM-01), Bobby Scott (VA-03), John Larson (CT-01), Marcy Kaptur (OH-09), Lori Trahan (MA-03), Greg Stanton (AZ-04), Frank Pallone (NJ-06), Grace Meng (NY-06), Mike Thompson (CA-04), George Whitesides (CA-27), Marilyn Strickland (WA-10), Linda Sanchez (CA-38), Valerie Foushee (NC-04), and Doris Matsui (CA-07).

The letter is endorsed by J Street, New Jewish Narrative, Friends Committee on National Legislation (FCNL) and Center for International Policy Advocacy.

Read the full text of the letter here and below.

Dear Prime Minister Netanyahu,

As Congressional supporters of human rights and democracy all over the world, we write to vigorously condemn the settler violence and intimidation afflicting the West Bank village of Umm Al-Kheir. For over three months, extremists from the nearby settlement of Carmel have maintained a barbed wire fence blocking the path that the children of Umm Al-Kheir use to travel to their school. This action, which has benefited from the protection of Israeli soldiers, is a violation of the fundamental right to an education. Particularly at a time when the American public is increasingly skeptical of Israel's commitment to peace, it is vital that your government take immediate steps to remove the fence and restore educational access in Umm Al-Kheir.

On April 13, 2026, students in Umm Al-Kheir found their path to school blocked by a barbed wire fence erected by settlers from the adjacent settlement of Carmel. Adults from the village called the Israeli police for assistance, but instead, soldiers arrived and shot tear gas toward the children. One of the victims was the five-year-old son of Awdah Hathaleen, who taught at the school in Umm Al-Kheir before a settler killed him during a July 2025 attack on the village. The fact that Hathaleen, who was a major contributor to the internationally acclaimed film No Other Land, and his young son were subject to state and settler violence not a year apart from one another is a terrible stain on your government and testament to the intergenerational harm Umm Al-Kheir has endured.

Israeli soldiers' actions exposed over two dozen children to tear gas, raising serious questions about how the Israeli military is abetting extremist violence against Umm Al-Kheir. Rather than intervening in defense of vulnerable students' basic right to go to school, Israeli military personnel have reportedly been standing along the fence, seemingly granting settlers permission to continue obstructing the road to the school. In recent months, Israeli forces have faced growing criticism for enabling settlers' harassment of communities in the West Bank. We are concerned that this dynamic is affecting Umm-Al Kheir, whose residents report sustained attacks and threats by settlers. As recently as June 4, 2026, Yosef Haddad, who is a known instigator of violence whom Israeli police have previously arrested, publicly mocked and threatened villagers by the fence, warning that they "haven't seen anything yet."

We understand that the Israeli military has suggested an alternative route for students to reach their school. However, this route is associated with significant security risks, and many parents have understandably decided to keep their children at home. The alternative route roughly doubles the distance that students need to travel and forces them to pass Carmel, creating more risks for negative and traumatizing interactions with settlers. Its use will only escalate violence in the community.

Across the West Bank, extremist attacks have intensified as the Israeli military increasingly provides protection to the perpetrators. Your government's dramatic acceleration of settlement construction-in violation of international law-has sent a similar signal of license to the settlers. Such actions imperil prospects for peace in the region, undermine Israeli security interests and place villages like Umm Al-Kheir at great risk.

At this critical juncture, continuing down the path of settler extremism will further degrade Israel's international standing and relationship with the United States. You can begin to reverse this dangerous and isolating approach by ordering your soldiers to remove the barbed wire fence in Umm Al-Kheir and to safeguard every child's right to an education.

We urge you to respect the basic premise that every child deserves to learn in peace.

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