US lawmakers introduce bill to halt Israeli settle...

Summary

• WASHINGTON: A group of US lawmakers has introduced legislation seeking to halt the construction and expansion of Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank and Gaza, putting the issue of settlement activity back at the centre of debate in Congress.
• The proposed US legislation also arrives shortly after the Senate narrowly rejected a separate measure that would have required the State Department to report on human rights conditions and alleged violations in the West Bank.
• The legislation nevertheless marks another congressional effort to address Israeli settlement expansion through US policy, as debate continues over the future of the West Bank, Palestinian political rights and prospects for a negotiated settlement.

AI Generated Summary

WASHINGTON: A group of US lawmakers has introduced legislation seeking to halt the construction and expansion of Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank and Gaza, putting the issue of settlement activity back at the centre of debate in Congress.

The Stop the Settlements Act, led by Democratic Representative Joaquin Castro, would impose sanctions on individuals and entities involved in building or expanding Israeli settlements and outposts. The legislation would also prohibit imports of goods produced in Israeli settlements and outposts.