A member of the Foreign Relations Committee, Senator Chris Van Hollen, warned US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken that President Joe Biden's administration appears weak due to its failure to hold Israel accountable for provocative steps and policies, in a public challenge to the US administration to take steps that show its willingness to hold Israel accountable.

This came during a hearing of US Secretary of State Blinken before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, where Senator Van Hollen asked the minister whether he supported what Deputy Foreign Ministry Spokesman Vedant Patel said in his press conference, strongly criticizing the Israeli move to lift the ban on the return of settlers. To four settlement outposts that Israel has designated as "illegal" in the occupied West Bank despite written commitments made to the United States since 2005.

Senator Van Hollen said in response to Blinken's unspecified answer regarding the need for both sides to pursue de-escalation measures: "I am pleased to see you support, and endorse the State Department spokesperson's statement, but it seems to me that we are showing that we are very weak when we continue to make statements without any kind of consequence." So I guess my last question to you is: What are we prepared to do — what is the Biden administration willing to do — if you see continued violations by either side of this agreement?”

Blinken responded that "at some point, if either or both sides don't do what we think is necessary to reach de-escalation, it's going to be difficult or maybe even counterproductive to do (on our end). But I also think it's important that everyone try to double down." necessary on trying to get there. Because it is not in the interests of Israel or the Palestinian Authority to see this cycle escalate.”

Senator Van Hollen was referring to what the State Department's Alternate Spokesperson, Vedant Patel, said on Tuesday: "The United States is deeply concerned that the Israeli Knesset has passed legislation reversing important parts of the 2005 Disengagement Act, including the ban on residence Settlements in the northern West Bank. At least one of these outposts in this area, Homesh, was built on private Palestinian land, which is illegal under Israeli law."

"It is even more concerning that such important legislation was passed with only 31 'yes' votes from a 120-member council. De-escalation and reduction of violence is in the interest of all parties, including Israel. The United States strongly urges Israel to refrain," the spokesperson added. about allowing the return of settlers to the area covered by the legislation, consistent with both former Prime Minister Sharon and the current Israeli government's commitment to the United States.” We have been clear that settlement expansion is an obstacle to peace and the achievement of a two-state solution. This certainly includes creating new settlements, building or legalizing outposts, or allowing construction of any kind on private Palestinian land or deep in the West Bank adjacent to Palestinian communities, all of which will be facilitated by this legal change.

"This action also represents a clear contradiction to the Israeli government's commitments to the United States nearly twenty years ago."

In a related issue, Senator Van Hollen later pushed Blinken during his questioning of the Foreign Relations Committee Wednesday to condemn Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich's remarks describing the Palestinian people as illusory, highlighting his earlier statements calling for the destruction of the Palestinian village of Huwwara.

“I appreciate the statements made by Biden administration officials — I think Mr. Secretary it is also important for you personally to continue to speak out,” Van Hollen said, warning of actions by Smotrich and national security Itamar Ben Gvir, “which is directly inconsistent with” Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's claim to have "his hands on the wheel".

It is noteworthy that a member of the Foreign Relations Committee, Democratic Senator Chris Murphy (from Connecticut), said in an interview with CNN last week that "the Biden administration should do more to pressure the far-right government of Benjamin Netanyahu, and it should not rule out steps such as stipulating Providing assistance to Israel and limiting visits by senior Israeli officials to the United States.