Trump: We Think We Know the Location of the Last Israeli Hostage Body in Gaza

More than 75 Democrats from both chambers of Congress urged the Trump administration to push back against Israeli efforts to annex the West Bank, demanding more involved U.S. action in the form of sanctions to preserve the “viability of a future Palestinian state.”

The lawmakers jointly urged the U.S. to communicate to Israel the negative consequences of pending Knesset legislation and the planned construction of settlement housing units in the E1 area of the West Bank outside of Jerusalem, as well as calling for the U.S. to reimpose Biden-era sanctions and to condemn acts of de-facto annexation undertaken by Israeli settlers.

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“U.S. leadership is crucial at this moment. We need tangible steps to back these words with action, if we are to preserve the cease-fire in Gaza and the possibility of a negotiated two-state solution to the Israel-Palestine conflict,” wrote the lawmakers, led by Sen. Peter Welch and Rep. Ro Khanna.

“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,” the lawmakers’ statement said. “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.”

They emphasized their concern for 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 E1 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.” The statement emphasized, “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.”