A majority of Senate Democrats sent a letter Wednesday to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, calling for immediate action to address rising violence by Israeli settlers in the West Bank. Led by Sen. Adam Schiff (D-CA), the lawmakers cited reports that fatal incidents by settlers have already exceeded 2025 levels. The letter urged the Israeli government to intervene in the violence and establish a credible system for investigating legal violations.
The request comes amid a reported 63 percent increase in settler attacks during the first half of 2026 compared to the same period in 2025. Data from the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) recorded 660 attacks between January and June 2026, up from 405 attacks in the first six months of the previous year. Lawmakers stated the conflict is driven in part by settlers claiming land where Palestinians reside.
The senators highlighted the deaths and harassment of U.S. citizens in the region as a primary concern. The letter noted the February death of 19-year-old American Naim Abu Siyam, who was shot by settlers, and the July 2025 death of 20-year-old Florida native Sayfollah Musallet. While the lawmakers acknowledged prior assistance from U.S. and Israeli embassies, they stated that a "more significant response" from Netanyahu’s government is necessary to protect their constituents.
For American citizens with family or land in the West Bank, the senators report a direct increase in physical threats. The letter indicates that constituents are reporting unprovoked harassment, which lawmakers say requires direct intervention by the Israeli Prime Minister to resolve. The shift in security conditions has moved beyond local disputes into a broader humanitarian issue, as thousands have been displaced from isolated villages due to direct threats and restricted utility access.
The outreach by Senate Democrats signals a potential shift in how U.S. lawmakers interact with the Israeli government regarding internal security and territory disputes. While the Israeli Embassy has not yet issued a response, the letter places formal pressure on Netanyahu to establish new legal mechanisms for investigating his own citizens. All Senate Democrats signed the document except for Sens. John Fetterman (D-PA) and Alex Padilla (D-CA). The next steps depend on whether the Israeli government implements the requested investigative mechanisms or if the U.S. Senate pursues further legislative action.