The minority leadership of the U.S. Senate Committee on Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs, led by Senator Elizabeth Warren, published a letter to Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent calling for changes to Trump Administration policies that they argue are exacerbating the risk of collapse in the West Bank. The letter cites warnings from Israel’s security agency Shin Bet and comments from U.S. Ambassador Mike Huckabee about the consequences of a potential Palestinian economic collapse. The senators proposed three actions: pressing the Israeli government to stop withholding clearance revenues and disrupting correspondent banking relationships, publicly opposing Israeli-approved settlements described as designed to end aspirations for a two-state solution, and restoring authority to impose financial sanctions that Trump revoked targeting destabilizing acts in the West Bank including extremist settler violence, forced displacement, and property destruction. They requested a response by October 1, 2025 describing steps the Administration is taking to avert further instability.
U.S. Senate Committee on Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs 2025-09-17
U.S. Senate Committee on Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs minority urges State and Treasury to take three steps to avert West Bank collapse risk
The U.S. Senate Committee's minority leadership, led by Senator Elizabeth Warren, urged Secretaries of State and Treasury to amend Trump-era policies risking West Bank economic collapse. They recommend urging Israel to release withheld revenues, opposing settlements undermining a two-state solution, and reinstating financial sanctions against destabilizing activities. A response is requested by October 1, 2025, on measures to prevent further instability.