Susan Rice, who reportedly is on the shortlist to be Joe Biden’s running mate, was among an array of senior Democrats who warned Israel that declaring sovereignty over parts of Judea and Samaria would harm ties with the United States.
“It would make this traditionally bipartisan strong support for Israel that much harder to sustain,” Rice, President Barack Obama’s national security adviser, told an online forum convened Tuesday by the Israel Policy Forum, which calls for a "two state solution."
Joining her were Michele Flournoy, a former undersecretary of defense who often has been touted to become the first woman defense secretary, and John Allen and Daniel Shapiro, who held top Obama administration posts handling the Middle East.
Flournoy said sovereignty could affect U.S. defense assistance to Israel.
“I would hate to see some in Congress decide they’re going to hold hostage our security systems to Israel as a way of protesting their policies in the West Bank,” she said.
Also speaking was Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y.
“Our ardent support for Israel does not mean that we lose sight of the goal supported by Israeli prime ministers and presidents of both parties of two states living side by side in peace and security,” he said. “This is especially urgent today as a unilateral act of annexation of territory in the West Bank is being considered, an action that I do not support.”