Democrats: Annexation puts Israel’s democracy at risk
WASHINGTON – A group of 18 Senate Democrats have sent a letter to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Alternate Prime Minister Benny Gantz urging them not to move forward with annexing Israeli settlements in the West Bank.
Senators Chris Murphy, Chris Van Hollen and Tim Kaine drafted the letter, and senior senators such as Elizabeth Warren and Bernie Sanders joined it.
“A deep commitment to Israel’s security and a shared set of democratic values are foundational elements of the close relationship between our countries,” the lawmakers wrote. “We are therefore concerned that unilateral annexation puts both Israel’s security and democracy at risk.”
They went on to say that annexation “would betray our shared democratic values by denying Palestinians’ right to self-determination in a viable, sovereign, independent and contiguous state.
“It could bring an end to Palestinian security cooperation with Israel, directly threatening the security of the Israeli people, and endanger Israel’s crucial peace agreement with Jordan,” the senators added.
“As friends and supporters of Israel, we caution you against taking unilateral steps that would fray our unique bonds, imperil Israel’s future and place out of reach the prospect of a lasting peace,” they continued.
“If you move forward with unilateral annexation, we would not support that action. This is consistent with long-standing American policy opposing unilateral actions by either party to the conflict. Pursuit of a viable, negotiated two-state solution is essential to ensuring our shared democratic values and lasting
bipartisan support for Israel in Congress.”
The letter has been circulating in the Senate for a few weeks. The progressive Jewish group J Street asked supporters earlier this month to urge their respective senators to sign the letter. However, the majority of Senate Democrats did not sign the letter.
“Unilateral annexation of the West Bank would likely destroy prospects for a negotiated two-state settlement between Israel and the Palestinians, thus jeopardizing Israel’s long-term security,” Murphy said in a statement to The