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Senate Democrats call on Netanyahu to crack down on West Bank settler violence

The only Democrats who didn’t sign the letter: Sens. John Fetterman and Bernie Sanders, who are on opposite ends of the caucus on Israel issues

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U.S. Capitol Building on January 18, 2025 in Washington, DC.

Nearly all Senate Democrats wrote to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Wednesday urging him to take action against settler violence in the West Bank and investigate the deaths of nine American citizens killed in the area in recent years.

The letter, led by Sens. Adam Schiff (D-CA), Chuck Schumer (D-NY) and Cory Booker (D-NJ), who have generally been supportive of Israel, was signed by every Senate Democrat except for Sens. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) and John Fetterman (D-PA) — who stand at opposite ends of the caucus on Israel issues.

“We write in shared concern and opposition to the growing levels of violence in the West Bank,” the lawmakers said, arguing that settlement expansion and violence in the West Bank “will harm Israel’s long-term security and the prospects for lasting peace, prosperity, and freedom for Israelis and Palestinians alike.”

They called on Netanyahu to instruct Israeli police and the IDF to stop harassment, threats and violence, to ensure that all responsible for such incidents are held accountable and that full investigations are conducted, to stop authorizing additional settlements and to take steps to dismantle illegal settlements.

“We write particularly on behalf of American citizens who have been killed or threatened in such violence. Many of us have heard first-hand from their families and other constituents who have themselves been threatened without cause by settlers,” the letter states. “[A] more significant response from your government is clearly needed. We ask for your personal and direct engagement and intervention in order to protect our constituents and their families.”

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