Pocan, Schakowsky Lead 85 Members Urging Sec. Rubio to Pressure Israeli Govt to Halt Settlement Construction in the E-1 Area of the West Bank
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Representatives Mark Pocan (WI-02) and Jan Schakowsky (IL-09) led a letter signed by 85 Members of Congress to Secretary of State Marco Rubio urging him to use every available diplomatic tool to halt the advancement of settlement construction in the E-1 area of the West Bank. In recent months, the Israeli government has approved construction plans, published construction tenders, and is on the verge of accepting bids and exchanging contracts. Once construction begins, the damage will be irreversible.
We write to strongly urge the Administration to use every available diplomatic tool to halt the advancement of settlement construction in the E-1 area of the West Bank,” the Members began. “The window for meaningful diplomatic intervention is closing rapidly, and we believe it is not too late for the United States to act.”
“The E-1 area is a 12 square-kilometer corridor east of Jerusalem. Construction of a settlement there would bisect the West Bank by severing the north from the south and cutting off Palestinian communities in Ramallah from those in Bethlehem, while completing an unbroken band of Israeli-controlled territory from Jerusalem through E-1 to the settlement of Ma’ale Adumim,” the Members continued. In doing so, it would cement Israeli sovereignty over the geographic heart of the West Bank.”
“The situation has accelerated dramatically in recent months… In December 2025, the Israeli Ministry of Construction and Housing published a tender for all 3,401 planned housing units, with bids expected to open June 1, 2026,” the Members added. “In March 2026, the Israel Land Authority separately published a tender for a new employment and commercial zone in E-1, also expected to open for bids imminently. Simultaneously, the Israeli Ministry of Defense has announced plans to pave a ‘Sovereignty Road’ that would permanently divert all Palestinian vehicle traffic away from E-1, effectively sealing off approximately three percent of the West Bank from Palestinian access and enabling the displacement of dozens of Palestinian Bedouin communities who live there.”
“Most recently, on May 19, 2026 Israeli Finance Minister Smotrich ordered the Civil Administration to begin proceedings to demolish the Palestinian Bedouin community of Khan al-Ahmar, which lies adjacent to the E-1 area, in preparation of anticipated settlement construction,” the Members go on to say. “Smotrich’s order underscores that the Israeli government is intent on advancing settlements in E-1 imminently. These steps are mutually reinforcing and are being advanced concurrently and urgently, a coordinated effort to establish irreversible facts on the ground.”
“President Trump has repeatedly claimed to oppose Israeli annexation of the West Bank… As recently as February of this year, the White House reiterated that “President Trump has clearly stated that he does not support Israel annexing the West Bank.” Construction in E-1 is annexation in its clearest form. We urge this administration to take meaningful action to back up this rhetoric,” the Members concluded.
A digital copy of the letter can be found here.
The full list of signers (85): Pocan, Mark; Schakowsky, Jan; Amo, Gabe; Ansari, Yassamin; Balint, Becca; Beyer, Donald; Bonamici, Suzanne; Brownley, Julia; Budzinski, Nikki; Carbajal, Salud; Casar, Greg; Casten, Sean; Castro, Joaquin; Chu, Judy; Cisneros, Gilbert; Clarke, Yvette; Cleaver, Emanuel; Cohen, Steve; Courtney, Joe; Crockett, Jasmine; Crow, Jason; Davis, Danny; Dean, Madeleine; DeLauro, Rosa; DelBene, Suzan; Deluzio, Christopher; DeSaulnier, Mark; Dexter, Maxine; Doggett, Lloyd; Elfreth, Sarah; Escobar, Veronica; Espaillat, Adriano; Evans, Dwight; Foster, Bill; Friedman, Laura; Garamendi, John; García, Jesús; Garcia, Sylvia; Grijalva, Adelita; Hoyle, Val; Huffman, Jared; Jackson, Jonathan; Jacobs, Sara; Jayapal, Pramila; Johnson, Henry; Khanna, Ro; Levin, Mike; Lynch, Stephen; Magaziner, Seth; Mannion, John; McBride, Sarah; McClain Delaney, April; McClellan, Jennifer; McCollum, Betty; McDonald Rivet, Kristen; McGovern, James; McIver, LaMonica; Mejia, Analilia; Menendez, Robert; Mfume, Kweisi; Min, Dave; Moore, Gwen; Moulton, Seth; Nadler, Jerrold; Norton, Eleanor; Neguse, Joe; Olszewski, Johnny; Pappas, Chris; Peters, Scott; Pettersen, Brittany; Pingree, Chellie; Pou, Nellie; Randall, Emily; Raskin, Jamie; Ross, Deborah; Salinas, Andrea; Subramanyam, Suhas; Takano, Mark; Tokuda, Jill; Tonko, Paul; Tran, Derek; Velázquez, Nydia; Walkinshaw, James; Watson Coleman, Bonnie; Williams, Nikema
NOTE: This press release was submitted to Urban Milwaukee and was not written by an Urban Milwaukee writer. While it is believed to be reliable, Urban Milwaukee does not guarantee its accuracy or completeness.
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