US Senate Democrats on Wednesday urged Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to rein in a “surge” of violence by West Bank settlers as well as mass arrests of Palestinians by Israeli security forces in the territory.

In the letter to Netanyahu, seen by Reuters and signed by 45 of the Senate’s 47-member Democratic caucus, the lawmakers noted increasing levels of “fatal violence by settlers.”

They also appealed to Israel’s leader to step up investigations into the deaths of nine American citizens they said have been killed by Israeli settlers or security forces in the West Bank since 2022.

The “significant surge” of violence in recent weeks has resulted in “a large-scale response by Israeli security forces, mass arrests of Palestinians, and reported attacks by settlers on mosques,” the letter stated.

The letter marks the latest sign of growing friction between the Israeli government and US Democrats in Washington and beyond over Israel’s handling of the West Bank, with many in the party also calling for curbs on US military aid to Israel over its conduct in the wars in Gaza and Iran. Polls show the vast majority of rank-and-file Democrats view Israel unfavorably.

In April, 40 out of the Senate’s 47 Democrats voted to block some weapons sales to Israel, though the measures failed.

The letter was drafted by Senator Adam Schiff of California, Senator Cory Booker of New Jersey and Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer of........

© The Times of Israel