American Lawmakers Have Just Weeks to Take a Stand Against Annexation

In the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, massive demonstrations against systemic racism in America’s criminal justice system, historic unemployment and economic hardship of millions of Americans, it is difficult to focus on important global problems. Unfortunately, reckless leaders like President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu are hoping to take advantage of our distraction to enact an extreme agenda with disastrous long-term consequences for the security, democracy and Jewish character of the State of Israel. 

In forming a new Israeli government in late April, Netanyahu officially set July 1 as the date to begin his long-promised plan to illegally and unilaterally annex large portions of occupied Palestinian territory in the West Bank. Israel’s “unity government” was supposed to focus on enabling an effective response to the pandemic crisis and avoid a fourth election in 18 months. Instead, the new government has become a vehicle for the Prime Minister to push ahead with annexation against the overwhelming warnings of the Israeli security establishment, opposition of the European Union, Jordan, Egypt, Saudi Arabia and the Gulf States, opposition of the House of Representatives in HR 326 passed last year, and with the encouragement and green light of the Trump administration. 

All American lovers and supporters of the State of Israel who believe that only through a negotiated two-state solution between Israel and the Palestinians can true peace and security be achieved, must oppose this disastrous path forward. The Trump-Netanyahu annexation plan is designed to prevent a peaceful two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and would relegate millions of Palestinians to disconnected enclaves surrounded by Israeli territory. They would be subject to indefinite military rule without civil or political rights or any hope of self-determination. Theirs is a plan that not only makes a mockery of the shared democratic values underpinning the US-Israel relationship, but imperils Israel’s long-term security as a democratic homeland for the Jewish people. As 25 former high-level Israeli security officials wrote in a letter to Congress last year, “Any unilateral annexation of territory or extension of sovereignty to the West Bank will put Israel’s security and safety along with the well-being of its citizens at risk.”

Now is the time for responsible American lawmakers to make clear that annexation is a reckless and destructive step that would have serious long-term ramifications for the region and for the American-Israeli relationship.

The clock is ticking. Now is the time for responsible American lawmakers to make clear that annexation is a reckless and destructive step that would have serious long-term ramifications for the region and for the American-Israeli relationship. Now is the time to speak out and send a signal to Israeli leaders that annexation does not have bipartisan support and cannot be pursued without lasting consequences.

Democrats must ensure that their 2020 party platform includes clear recognition of Palestinian rights alongside Israeli security, and explicit opposition to annexation, settlement expansion and indefinite occupation. 

As early as next year, the Trump era may be behind us, but we need now to begin laying the groundwork for a better future and prevent Trump from wreaking damage that could linger for decades. For those who care about Israel as a democratic homeland for the Jewish people, who care about Palestinian rights and dignity, and who care about a healthy US-Israel relationship rooted in shared interests and values, now is the time to make a stand.