The Hill reported that 189 House Democrats penned a letter to Israel's leaders urging them to "reconsider" the government's intended plans to annex parts of Judea and Samaria. "We remain steadfast in our belief that pursuing two states for two peoples is essential to ensuring a secure, Jewish, democratic Israel able to live side-by-side, in peace and mutual recognition, with an independent, viable, de-militarized Palestinian state," they wrote.
The lawmakers said Israel had little to gain and much to lose. They alluded to threats made by Jordan's King Abdullah II and representative of the EU and UN, and claimed the move would likely put an end to hopes of a two-state solution.
Addressing Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu, Foreign Minister Gabi Ashkenazi (Blue and White), and Defense Minister Benny Gantz (Blue and White), they wrote, "We do not see how any of these acute risks serve the long-term interest of a strong, secure Israel. As committed partners in supporting and protecting the special US-Israel relationship, we express our deep concern with the stated intention to move ahead with any unilateral annexation of West Bank territory, and we urge your government to reconsider plans to do so."
The majority of Republican representatives in both of the houses have expressed support for the move. On Wednesday, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo backed Israel's right to have the final say, telling reporters that these were "decisions for the Israelis to make."
Pompeo's comments came moments after the United Nations (UN) and Arab League joined in calling for Israel to abandon its plans to declare sovereignty.
It was expected to be the last international meeting before Israel goes ahead with its plans as early as July 1. "I call on the Israeli government to abandon its annexation plans," said UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres.
He reiterated what he presented as a goal of a two-state solution with an independent, contiguous, sovereign and viable Palestinian state, with Jerusalem as the capital of both entities.
The UN coordinator for the Middle East, Nickolay Mladenov, said sovereignty "could irrevocably alter the nature of Israeli-Palestinian relations." He added: "It risks upending more than a quarter of a century of international efforts in support of a future viable Palestinian state living in peace, security and mutual recognition with the State of Israel."