The political split over Israel in the USA became more apparent amid reports that White House officials are due to meet this week over whether to approve Israel’s plan to annex parts of the West Bank.
A majority of Republicans in the House of Representatives have signed a letter supporting Israel’s right to fix its borders – in contrast to a letter from House Democrats critical of the proposed annexationi.
The move to extend Israeli sovereignty over the Jordan Valley is in line with the Trump peace plan published earlier this year – although the American administration has so far stopped short of endorsing any immediate implementation.
The letter - signed by 116 out of 198 Republican representatives including the party’s leader in the House Kevin McCarthy - emphasised Israel’s “right to make sovereign decisions independent of outside pressure”.
