By: Andrew Carlson

More than forty Democratic senators have called on President Donald Trump to publicly reaffirm his opposition to any Israeli move to annex parts of the West Bank, underscoring bipartisan concern that such a policy could destabilize the Middle East and jeopardize the diplomatic gains achieved through the Abraham Accords.

According to a report on Wednesday at VIN News, the appeal — led by Sen. Adam Schiff (D-Calif.) — was formalized in a letter obtained by Axios this week. The senators’ message emphasized that annexation could not only endanger the viability of a two-state solution but also risk unraveling the regional peace framework Trump himself brokered during his first term.

“We support your comments opposing any efforts by Israel to annex territory in the West Bank and urge your Administration to take steps to preserve the viability of a two-state solution,” the letter stated. The senators also noted that they were encouraged by the president’s recent remarks reaffirming his commitment to “peace, stability, and mutual recognition between Israel and its Arab neighbors.”

The outreach follows a series of high-stakes meetings between Trump and leaders from Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Egypt, Jordan, Turkey, Indonesia, and Pakistan, who have all expressed alarm over growing talk in Jerusalem about extending Israeli sovereignty to parts of Judea and Samaria. Trump reportedly assured those leaders that he would not permit Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to proceed with such a move, telling reporters afterward that “annexation is off the table” for now, and that “the focus must remain on implementing peace and reconstruction efforts in Gaza.”

As VIN News reported, the senators’ letter is remarkable for its tone and timing: it marks one of the few occasions in recent years when congressional Democrats have rallied behind a Trump administration position on foreign policy — particularly one related to Israel.

In their joint statement, the senators warned that annexation would not only violate long-standing international norms but also risk reversing years of painstaking diplomatic progress achieved through the Abraham Accords. Those accords, signed in 2020 under Trump’s leadership, normalized Israel’s relations with several Arab states including the UAE, Bahrain, Morocco, and Sudan, opening unprecedented channels for trade, security cooperation, and cultural exchange.

“Annexation of territory in the West Bank could threaten regional peace agreements and undermine the diplomatic breakthroughs your administration successfully brokered,” the senators wrote. “We urge you to continue leveraging American influence to promote dialogue and avoid unilateral steps that would inflame tensions and weaken Israel’s position internationally.”

According to the information provided in the VIN News report, the letter also framed annexation as incompatible with Israel’s long-term security interests, suggesting that the expansion of sovereignty would complicate cooperation with moderate Arab partners and embolden Iran and its proxies in Lebanon, Syria, and Gaza. “A stable, negotiated resolution between Israelis and Palestinians remains the only viable path to lasting peace,” the senators added.

One notable absence from the letter was Sen. John Fetterman (D-Pa.), whose decision not to sign drew attention given his outspoken support for Israel during previous congressional debates. Fetterman’s office declined to comment, though aides have said the senator believes Israel’s security decisions should not be subject to external pressure from Washington.

President Trump’s stance on annexation has evolved over time, shaped both by his enduring support for Israel and by the regional alliances that underpin his “Comprehensive Plan to End the Conflict in Gaza.” As VIN News reported earlier this week, Trump’s administration is currently focused on enforcing the ceasefire in Gaza and overseeing humanitarian and reconstruction efforts — priorities that U.S. officials argue could be derailed if Israel were to make a unilateral move in Judea and Samaria.

Sources within the administration told VIN News that Trump’s diplomatic team, led by Vice President J.D. Vance, senior adviser Jared Kushner, and special envoy Steve Witkoff, has been working intensively with Arab states to consolidate post-war arrangements. These include an international stabilization force in Gaza and a series of economic initiatives designed to improve regional integration.

“Annexation would complicate everything we’re trying to build,” one senior administration official said. “It would alienate key Arab partners, fracture the current unity against Iran, and create enormous diplomatic costs for Israel — all at a time when we’re closer to lasting peace than we’ve been in decades.”

Trump’s recent assurances to Arab leaders, conveyed during his meetings in Riyadh, Cairo, and Abu Dhabi, were described by VIN News as part of an ongoing effort to maintain regional calm while strengthening U.S. influence. According to the outlet, Trump told one Gulf official that “Israel must remain secure, but it must also remain wise,” emphasizing that Israel’s long-term prosperity depends on strategic patience rather than political provocation.

The senators’ letter represents a rare moment of bipartisanship on an issue that has often polarized Washington. While the Biden administration was previously criticized by Republicans for its uneven handling of U.S.-Israel relations, Trump’s diplomatic initiatives — particularly the Abraham Accords — have continued to enjoy broad support from both sides of the aisle.

The VIN News report noted that Schiff’s letter is part of a broader congressional trend toward recalibrating Middle East policy in favor of long-term stability. Many Democrats, who were initially skeptical of Trump’s approach to Israel, now view his peace framework as a pragmatic model that blends unwavering support for Israel’s security with incentives for Arab engagement.

Still, some progressive lawmakers remain deeply critical of Israeli policy in the territories. Privately, several Democratic aides told reporters that the letter was as much about “preventing escalation” as it was about endorsing Trump’s broader strategy. “Nobody wants to see Gaza stabilize just to have another conflict erupt in the West Bank,” one Senate staffer told VIN News. “That would undo months of delicate diplomacy.”

For now, President Trump appears committed to his pledge to block annexation, viewing restraint as essential to maintaining the ceasefire and advancing reconstruction in Gaza. As VIN News reported, Trump’s foreign policy team believes that ensuring regional stability could pave the way for additional normalization agreements — including potential breakthroughs with Saudi Arabia and Indonesia — if the current diplomatic equilibrium holds.

However, pressure continues to mount inside Israel, where right-wing members of the Knesset have called for renewed sovereignty initiatives in Judea and Samaria, arguing that U.S. caution should not dictate Israel’s sovereign decisions. Recent preliminary votes on annexation-related legislation have already drawn international attention, with Washington warning that such moves could carry “serious consequences.”

As one Israeli analyst told VIN News, “This is a pivotal moment. Israel has every right to secure its historic heartland, but it also has to calculate the price of timing. The Americans are building a regional framework that could change the Middle East forever. The question is whether Israel wants to be part of that framework — or test its limits.”

In Washington, the Senate letter serves as both a message of support and a subtle warning: that while the United States remains Israel’s closest ally, its patience for unilateral action is limited. With the Gaza truce still fragile and the region’s diplomatic future in flux, the coming weeks may determine whether Trump’s vision of a new Middle East survives — or fractures under the weight of competing political ambitions.