Exclusive: Senators urge Pentagon not to downgrade U.S. Palestinian security post

What we're watching: The bipartisan letter, led by Sens. Jon Ossoff (D-Ga.) and Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) and signed by three dozen senators, warns that downgrading the post would undermine U.S. national security and risk peace and stability in Israel and the West Bank.

Details: "Downgrading this position would undermine critical security programs and degrade communications between Israelis and Palestinians, which the USSC facilitates," the senators wrote to U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin.

• "Such a downgrade would also risk fracturing the U.S.-led international coalition committed to strengthening security and stability in Israel and the West Bank.”
• Other senators who've signed the letter include Sens. John Thune (R-S.D.), Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), Cory Booker (D-N.J.), Rob Portman (R-Ohio), Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), and Raphael Warnock (D-Ga.).
• Separately, Sen. James Lankford (R-Okla.) wrote to Austin Thursday expressing concern that "downgrading the USSC’s rank will weaken the USSC's mission and imperil US security interests in the Middle East."

Between the lines: The State Department and the Israeli Defense Ministry also share the concern that such a decision could hurt security cooperation between the U.S. and Palestinians and damage coordination between Israeli and Palestinian officials, as Ravid reported.

• Secretary of State Tony Blinken and U.S. Ambassador to Israel Tom Nides have both urged the Pentagon against the plan.
• The current U.S. security coordinator Lt. Gen. Michael Fenzel has also expressed that downgrading the post could harm the mission.

The big picture: The U.S. security coordinator (USSC) post was created in 2005 for to meet U.S. commitments under the Middle East Roadmap for Peace.

• Their three-star rank allows them access to civilian and military officials in Washington, Jerusalem, and Ramallah.