Sep 17, 2025 - Politics & Policy

Exclusive: Dems confront Trump team on potential collapse of Palestinian Authority

Stephen Neukam

Sen. Elizabeth Warren (L) (D-MA) speaks during a press conference with Senate Democrats on Social Security at the U.S. Capitol on April 01, 2025 in Washington, DC. — Sen. Elizabeth Warren speaks during a press conference on Social Security at the U.S. Capitol on April 1. Photo by Win McNamee/Getty Images

Senate Democrats on Tuesday urged top Trump officials to act quickly to avoid the potential collapse of the Palestinian Authority in the occupied West Bank, Axios has learned.

Why it matters: Both parties recognize the danger of escalation in the event of the Palestinian Authority's collapse. Democrats say the White House can move now to prevent a disaster.

Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) led Democrats in a letter to Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent asking the officials to take "three concrete steps" to avoid a collapse.
Israel's domestic security agency has reportedly warned the country's political leaders that Palestinian Authority is in danger of unraveling.
The Democrats said the situation is "threatening to plunge the region into violent new chaos."

Between the lines: The Democrats are pressuring the Trump administration to urge Israeli leaders to release hundreds of millions of dollars in tax revenues to the Palestinian Authority.

Israel's government has been withholding the funds from the Palestinian Authority for months.
Democrats also want the U.S. to officially condemn plans by Israel to construct settlements in the West Bank, which the letter says is "designed to end Palestinian and Israeli aspirations for a two-state solution."
The Democrats also asked the Trump officials to restore the authority to impose financial sanctions targeting violent Israeli settlers in the West Bank. Democrats want answers from Rubio and Bessent by Oct. 1.

Zoom out: U.S. ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee told Axios this month that he's worried that there will be an economic collapse in the West Bank.

"If the Palestinian economy were to completely collapse, it won't be a winning deal for anyone," Huckabee told Axios. "It would lead to an escalation and further desperation. Desperate people do desperate things."
Sens. Chris Coons (D-Del.), Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii), Jack Reed (D-R.I.), Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.) and Mark Warner (D-Va.) also signed onto the letter to the Trump officials.
The Democrats in the letter, pointing to Huckabee's comments, said the White House "should demonstrate that it takes this concern seriously" by meeting the Democrats' three demands.

Go deeper: UAE warns White House that Israeli annexations could unravel Abraham Accords

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Exclusive: Dems confront Trump team on potential collapse of Palestinian Authority

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