Overview

• Rep. Ro Khanna circulated a letter signed by at least 11 progressive Democrats urging President Trump and Secretary of State Marco Rubio to recognize a Palestinian state ahead of the United Nations General Assembly in September.
• The draft letter makes U.S. recognition conditional on Palestinian acceptance of Israel, adoption of a framework to guarantee Israel’s security and the disarmament and relinquishment of power by Hamas.
• Signatories confirmed by Khanna’s office include Reps. Greg Casar, Veronica Escobar, Lloyd Doggett, Al Green, Pramila Jayapal, Maxwell Frost, Jared Huffman, Mark Pocan, Bonnie Watson Coleman and Jim McGovern.
• The effort follows parallel announcements by France, the United Kingdom, Canada and Malta to formally recognize Palestinian statehood during the UNGA.
• The leaked draft has sparked debate within the Democratic caucus and sets up a formal push for recognition despite longstanding U.S. policy opposing unilateral statehood.