Democratic Senators Force Senate Vote Criticizing Israeli Actions in West Bank

A group of Democratic senators in the United States Senate is preparing to force a vote condemning Israeli activities in the West Bank, referred to in the resolution as the "occupied West Bank." Senator Chris Van Hollen, a senior Democrat known for his critical stance on Israel, has gathered enough support among his colleagues to compel the Senate to debate the issue. Van Hollen has been one of Israel's most vocal critics within the Democratic Party, labeling Israeli actions during the Gaza conflict as "war crimes" and accusing Israel of deliberately starving children in Gaza by obstructing humanitarian aid. About a year ago, he published an opinion piece pledging to push the next Democratic president to overhaul U.S.-Israel relations, including imposing heavy sanctions and banning arms sales and military aid. The upcoming Senate vote is expected to focus on what the senators describe as "systematic settler violence in the occupied West Bank."