WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senator Peter Welch (D-Vt.) and U.S. Representative Ro Khanna (D-CA-17) led 74 bicameral colleagues in urging the Trump Administration to push back against Prime Minister Netanyahu and the Israeli Government's efforts to annex the West Bank, which have accelerated in recent weeks.

In their letter to Secretary of State Marco Rubio, the lawmakers expressed grave concerns about Israel's ongoing efforts to undermine the Trump Administration's stated policies and violate international law by illegally expanding settlements and forcibly displacing Palestinians from their lands, with irreparable consequences for the long-term peace and security of both Israelis and Palestinians.

The lawmakers wrote: "U.S. leadership is crucial at this moment. We need tangible steps to back these words with action, if we are to preserve the ceasefire in Gaza and the possibility of a negotiated two-state solution to the Israel-Palestine conflict,"

"Despite the United States' opposition to annexation, segments of the Israeli government have recently reaffirmed their commitment to advancing Israeli sovereignty in the West Bank. Alongside the Knesset's preliminary approval of two draft bills to impose Israeli sovereignty over the West Bank, that body is also considering dozens of other proposed bills which, if enacted, would formalize various forms of annexation," wrote the lawmakers. "Of particular concern are bills that would absorb settlements north, east, and south of Jerusalem to create an expanded municipality under Israeli control."

The lawmakers continued: "Combined with the recent approval of the E-1 settlement project directly east of Jerusalem, these proposals would divide the West Bank into northern and southern enclaves, severing the contiguity of Palestinian land and -quite deliberately-undermining the viability of a future Palestinian state. While this legislation is under consideration, de facto annexation through targeted violence, intimidation of Palestinian communities, and forced displacement is already widespread. Throughout the West Bank, Israeli settlers are driving Palestinians off their land and expanding Israeli settlements, including in Taybeh, Wadi Foquin, Silwan, and Al-Walaja."

"We strongly urge the State Department to clearly communicate to the Israeli Government the negative consequences that the pending Knesset bills and construction of the E-1 settlements would have on the prospects for peace and security in the region, on the daily lives of Palestinians, and on Israel's relations with the United States," the lawmakers continued. "We urge the Administration to reimpose sanctions under Executive Order 14115 and to condemn the acts of de facto annexation undertaken by Israeli settlers."

The lawmakers concluded: "As you, President Trump, and Vice President Vance have said, Israeli efforts to apply sovereignty or annex parts of the West Bank via the Knesset pose a grave risk to peace in the region and should not be pursued."

In addition to Senator Welch, the letter is signed in the Senate by Sens. Angela Alsobrooks (D-Md.), Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.), Mazie Hirono (D-Hawaii), Tim Kaine (D-Va.), Mark Kelly (D-Ariz.), Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.), Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.), Ed Markey (D-Mass.), Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), Jack Reed (D-R.I.), Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii), Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.), Tina Smith (D-Minn.), Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), Rev. Raphael Warnock (D-Ga.), Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), and Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.).

In the House, the letter is signed by Rep. Khanna and Reps. Gabe Amo (D-RI-01), Yassamin Ansari (D-AZ-03), Becca Balint (D-VT-At-Large), Don Beyer (D-VA-08), André Carson (D-IN-07), Troy Carter (D-LA-02), Greg Casar (D-TX-35), Sean Casten (D-IL-06), Joaquin Castro (D-TX-20), Judy Chu (D-CA-28), Yvette Clarke (D-NY-09), Emanuel Cleaver (D-MO-05), Steve Cohen (D-TN-09), Jasmine Crockett (D-TX-30), Rosa DeLauro (D-CT-03), Madeleine Dean (D-PA-04), Chris Deluzio (D-PA-17), Maxine Dexter (D-OR-03), Lloyd Doggett (D-TX-37), Veronica Escobar (D-TX-16), Dwight Evans (D-PA-03), Maxwell Frost (D-FL-10), John Garamendi (D-CA-08), Jesús García (D-IL-04), Al Green (D-TX-09), Adelita Grijalva (D-AZ-07), Dan Goldman (D-NY-10), Jared Huffman (D-CA-02), Val Hoyle (D-OR-04), Jonathan Jackson (D-IL-01), Sara Jacobs (D-CA-51), Pramila Jayapal (D-WA-07), Sydney Kamlager-Dove (D-CA-37), Robin Kelly (D-IL-02), Sam Liccardo (D-CA-16), Zoe Lofgren (D-CA-18), Stephen Lynch (D-MA-08), Seth Magaziner (D-RI-02), Jennifer McClellan (D-VA-04), Betty McCollum (D-MN-04), James McGovern (D-MA-02), Kweisi Mfume (D-MA-07), Dave Min (D-CA-40), Seth Moulton (D-MA-06), Jerrold Nadler (D-NY-10), Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY-12), Chellie Pingree (D-ME-01), Mark Pocan (D-WI-02), Scott Peters (D-CA-50), Mike Quigley (D-IL-05), Emily Randall (D-WA-06), Janice Schakowsky (D-IL-09), Lateefah Simon (D-CA-12), and Nydia Velázquez (D-NY-07).

The letter is endorsed by J Street and New Jewish Narrative.

"J Street is deeply grateful for Sen. Welch's leadership in pushing Secretary of State Rubio and the Trump Administration to ensure that the Israeli government ceases efforts toward de facto annexation of the West Bank. The unacceptable escalation in settler violence in recent years is now being complemented by formal Israeli government actions seeking to expropriate Palestinian land in the West Bank. These actions are working together hand in hand in an attempt to prevent a future Palestinian state," said Hannah Morris, VP of Government Affairs, J Street. "Palestinian statehood, not occupation and annexation, is what will bring peace for both Israelis and Palestinians. For the sake of all in the region, the Israeli government must reverse these cruel and counterproductive actions."

"The Trump administration has failed to stop the Israeli government from expanding settlements and destabilizing the West Bank in ways that harm Palestinians and the prospects for a better, more peaceful future. In 2025, we not only saw record high levels of settler attacks on Palestinians - we also saw the Israeli government approve nearly 30,000 housing units for settlers in the West Bank. This letter is a wake up call to Secretary Rubio. America's failure to effectively press Israeli leaders on their reckless actions in the West Bank jeopardizes the administration's progress towards ending the war and their stated goal of achieving a lasting peace," said Hadar Susskind, President and CEO, New Jewish Narrative. "Senator Welch and Rep. Khanna deserve credit for initiating this important letter. I hope that the administration pays attention to their clarion call."

Read and download the full text of the lawmakers' letter to Secretary of State Rubio.

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