Friends,
Last week, two more young men were killed in a West Bank settler attack.
According to eyewitnesses, Sayfollah ‘Saif’ Musallet, a 20-year-old Palestinian American visiting family, was beaten to death. A 23-year-old, Razek Hussein al-Shalabi, was shot and killed in the same attack. Settlers reportedly then blocked ambulances rushing to the scene.
The full details of this attack remain unclear, but it is clear that this is no isolated incident.
Since October 7, hundreds of Palestinian civilians – including five Palestinian-Americans and over 200 children and teenagers – have been killed by extremist settlers and soldiers, enabled by leaders who shield perpetrators from accountability and prevent security services from intervening. Dozens of Israeli civilians and soldiers have been killed in the West Bank in the same period.
As Jewish and pro-Israel Americans, this should outrage us. We cannot tolerate a system that allows civilians to be killed without consequence, and this rampant impunity fuels a cycle of retaliation, violence and terror that puts thousands of Israelis at risk as well.
Representatives Jerry Nadler, Adam Smith and Jim Himes introduced the West Bank Violence Prevention Act this year – a sanctions framework targeting violent settlers and those who fund them. This law would provide a measure of justice and deterrence in a situation spiraling out of control.
Tell Congress: Take Action Against Settler Violence
Read, sign and share our petition ✍️
Friends, this legislation codifies Biden-era sanctions into law – reversing President Trump’s reckless decision to remove sanctions on settler extremists when he came into office.
It’s led by three senior Democrats, including Jerry Nadler, Co-Chair of the Congressional Jewish Caucus, Adam Smith, Ranking Member of the House Armed Services Committee and Jim Himes, Ranking Member of the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence.
Together, they know what we know: A future in which Israel is safe, secure and democratic depends on ending the lawlessness taking hold in the West Bank. We cannot allow extremist settlers free rein to continue this violent campaign to harass and intimidate families from their homes and farms in an effort to claim more land for ‘Greater Israel’.
Together, we have to send a message that extremist settlers do not represent our Jewish values nor our vision for Israel – in fact, they’re putting everyone at risk.
Please take a moment to sign our petition today and make a follow-up phone call to your Member of Congress to voice your support for the West Bank Violence Prevention Act.
The fight for justice and accountability requires all of us to speak out – in our synagogues, on social media and in every place where decisions about US policy are made.
Together, we must send an unmistakable message: The United States cannot be complicit in funding or enabling violence that undermines peace and corrodes Israel’s democracy.
Yours,
Adina Vogel Ayalon
Vice President and Chief of Staff, J Street
