A coalition of Democratic senators has formally called on Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to abandon a proposed housing project in the West Bank, arguing it would effectively sever the Palestinian territory and undermine long-standing U.S. policy.
In a letter released Friday, 29 lawmakers led by Sen. Ruben Gallego (D-AZ) expressed alarm over Israel's decision to open bidding on construction in the E1 corridor, a strategically sensitive zone east of Jerusalem. The project, which has been stalled for decades, would include seven residential compounds totaling 1,234 housing units, according to Israeli press reports.
The senators wrote that the United States must remain committed to a two-state solution that ensures security for both Israel and a future Palestinian state. “Construction in E1 would take us further away from that goal,” they stated.
The tender, published by Israel's Construction and Housing Ministry on Aug. 18, gives contractors until Oct. 19 to submit bids. Lawmakers warned that development in E1 would isolate East Jerusalem from key Palestinian population centers such as Bethlehem and Ramallah, effectively cutting the West Bank in half.
“For decades, Republican and Democratic administrations have recognized that development in E1 would seriously jeopardize the prospects for a Palestinian state,” the letter reads. “That concern remains just as urgent today.”
The signatories include prominent figures such as Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY), Dick Durbin (D-IL), Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), and Cory Booker (D-NJ). Their request follows a separate letter signed by 44 Democratic senators and independent Angus King (I-ME) on Wednesday, which called on Israel to address a surge in settler violence against Palestinians.
“We urge the Israeli government to immediately rescind these tenders, halt settlement expansion in the West Bank, and take urgent action to rein in settler violence,” the Friday letter states. It also warns that without a policy shift, Israel risks eroding its international standing and long-term security.
The senators also pressed the Trump administration to use its existing authorities, including targeted sanctions, to deter further settlement activity. President Trump has historically backed Netanyahu, but friction has emerged over the Iran war and the implementation of a Gaza peace plan. In a recent Fox News interview, Trump withheld his endorsement in Netanyahu's reelection race, signaling growing pressure on the Israeli leader to accept the plan's terms.
Netanyahu has resisted the proposal, which would require an Israeli military withdrawal from Gaza, insisting it must include the complete disarmament of Hamas, a U.S.-designated terrorist organization.
The Democratic push reflects a broader congressional concern over Israeli settlement policy and its impact on regional stability, a debate that is likely to intensify as the Trump administration navigates its relationship with both Israel and the Palestinian Authority.
