Letter comes in response to incidents of settler violence and harassment of Palestinians in the West Bank
WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator John Hickenlooper recently joined six of his Senate colleagues in pressing the Biden administration to strengthen diplomatic efforts to maintain stability in the West Bank. In their letter, the senators emphasize their concern that recent attacks on the Palestinian people in the West Bank could lead to larger regional conflict.
“Alarming incidents of violence by Israeli settlers against Palestinians represent an acute destabilizing risk that must be mitigated to prevent wider conflict in the region,” the senators wrote. “We are encouraged by recent statements from the White House emphasizing the need to mitigate settler violence.
“However, more must be done. We urge your administration to enhance its diplomatic efforts to prevent further violence and respectfully request a briefing from your administration on current policy to address incidents of extremist settler violence and the forcible displacement of Palestinians in the West Bank,” they continued.
The letter comes in response to reports of incidents of settler violence and harassment of Palestinians in the West Bank. The recent attacks have escalated fears that the hostilities between Israel and Hamas could spread from Gaza to the West Bank, triggering a wider regional conflict.
Last month, Senator Hickenlooper joined a letter calling for sustained access to humanitarian aid in Gaza, including water and medical supplies. He also signed onto a letter calling for the delivery of lifesaving fuel to hospitals and water treatment facilities in Gaza, and urged the Biden administration to lead the international community in contributing to the United Nations’ emergency appeal of $294 million to address the immediate humanitarian needs in the West Bank and Gaza.
Full text of the letter is available HERE and below:
Dear Mr. President,
We write to express concern about threats to West Bank stability and the risks these threats pose to U.S. national security interests and to civilians. As Israel confronts the atrocities of the October 7th Hamas attacks, and threats in Gaza and southern Lebanon, it is crucial that U.S. and Israeli policy reinforce the stability and security of the West Bank.
Alarming incidents of violence by Israeli settlers against Palestinians represent an acute destabilizing risk that must be mitigated to prevent wider conflict in the region. Israeli media has reported that Shin Bet, the Israeli internal security service, is itself concerned that settler violence could inflame the West Bank.1Moreover, reports from the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) that Israeli forces at times accompany extremist settlers as they attack Palestinian people, evict them from their homes, and destroy property, are cause for serious concern and must be addressed.
If additional action to prevent these violent attacks is not taken, we worry that civilians and U.S national security interests will suffer grave harm. The situation is likely to exacerbate anger and grievance among the people of the West Bank and across the Arab world, inhibit efforts to cooperate with Arab states against shared threats, and undermine moderate Palestinian leaders who can offer an alternative to Hamas and make peace with Israel. Ultimately, these conditions could provoke widespread violence and a broader conflict.
We are encouraged by recent statements from the White House emphasizing the need to mitigate settler violence. We also note the vital role that the U.S. Security Coordinator for Israel and the Palestinian Authority (USSC) is playing to manage risk in the area.
However, more must be done. We urge your administration to enhance its diplomatic efforts to prevent further violence and respectfully request a briefing from your administration on current policy to address incidents of extremist settler violence and the forcible displacement of Palestinians in the West Bank.
Thank you for your timely response to this request.
Sincerely,
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