WASHINGTON D.C (VINnews) — House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries said Wednesday that Democrats could bring the Judea-Samaria Violence Prevention Act to a vote next year if they regain control of the House in November.
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Jeffries made the comments in response to a question from Jewish Insider reporter Marc Rod. He said the legislation has “broad support across the House Democratic Caucus” and called it “a legislative step that should be considered in order to push back aggressively against the out-of-control settler violence in Judea-Samaria that cannot continue.”
The bill, H.R. 3045, was introduced in April 2025 by Rep. Jerrold Nadler, D-N.Y. It would authorize the president to impose sanctions, including visa bans and asset freezes, on foreign persons found to have committed illegal violent acts that endanger U.S. national security and undermine prospects for a two-state solution. Sponsors say it applies regardless of nationality and is modeled on a Biden-era executive order that President Trump revoked on his first day in office.
Jeffries, who represents a Brooklyn district with a large Jewish community and has been a consistent supporter of Israel, also restated two guiding principles: support for Israel’s right to exist as a Jewish and democratic state, and the need for a Palestinian state so that Palestinians can achieve self-determination. He said those views are broadly shared in the House Democratic caucus.
The measure has drawn more than 160 Democratic cosponsors in the House, including Jeffries himself, who signed on in March. A companion Senate bill has dozens of Democratic sponsors. Republicans control both chambers and the White House, so the legislation has not advanced.
Jeffries’ remarks come as Democrats remain divided over Israel policy. In July he opposed an amendment that would have cut off aid to Israel, calling it overly broad. A larger progressive bloc in a future Democratic majority is expected to press for tougher measures.
Violence has continued on both sides in Judea-Samaria. On Sunday, Netanel Shukrun, a father of six from the community of Alei Zahav, was shot and killed by a Palestinian terrorist while visiting a spring before Yom Kippur. On Wednesday, Neria Leiter, son of Israel’s ambassador to the United States Yechiel Leiter, was critically injured in a car-ramming attack at a Judea-Samaria checkpoint. Hamas praised the ramming as a “natural response.”
Jeffries acknowledged a “host of other challenges that need to be resolved in the Middle East.” The West Bank Violence Prevention Act remains in committee and has no Republican
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