Congress to Rubio: Confront Israel’s Reckless West Bank Moves
January 20, 2026 — Seventy-six members of Congress sent a letter to Secretary Rubio today urging the administration to push back against Israeli efforts to reshape the West Bank. The letter specifically calls out settlement construction in E-1, pro-annexation Knesset bills, and the administration’s decision to rescind Biden-era sanctions on violent settlers.
New Jewish Narrative strongly advocated on behalf of this letter, which was led by Senator Peter Welch and Representative Ro Khanna.
The large number of signers — including one-fifth of the Senate — underscores growing congressional frustration with the Israeli government’s reckless actions in the West Bank and with the Trump administration’s failure to effectively press Israeli leaders to change course.
The full text of the letter and the full list of signers are available at https://www.welch.senate.gov/welch-khanna-lead-74-bicameral-lawmakers-in-urging-stronger-response-from-trump-admin-on-israels-efforts-to-annex-the-west-bank/
Hadar Susskind, President and CEO of New Jewish Narrative, said:
"This letter reflects a clear and urgent message from Congress: the situation in the West Bank is bad and is getting worse, and the United States cannot afford to look the other way. Israeli settlement expansion and emboldened annexation efforts are deepening instability and undermining the possibility of a political resolution for Israelis and Palestinians.
"The administration has tools at its disposal – diplomatic, political, and economic – and it must be willing to use them if it hopes to shape a different future. Members of Congress are saying loud and clear that our current approach isn’t working. President Trump needs to listen."
Photo by: יעקב, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
