On October 21, 2025, the halls of Congress echoed with the sounds of dissent, unity, and a fair share of political drama. Senate Democrats, nearly in full force, took a bold step by urging President Donald Trump to reinforce his opposition to any Israeli annexation of the West Bank, a move they argue could seriously undermine the already fragile prospects for Middle East peace. Only one member, Senator John Fetterman of Pennsylvania, withheld his signature from the letter, which was spearheaded by Senator Adam Schiff of California. The message was clear: preserve the chance for a two-state solution and protect the diplomatic gains made under the Abraham Accords.
The contents of the letter, as reported by Jewish Insider, struck a balance between support for Israel’s security and concern for Palestinian aspirations. The senators wrote, "We offer our support for your comments opposing any efforts by the Government of Israel to annex territory in the West Bank and to urge your Administration to promote steps to preserve the viability of a two-state solution and the success of the Abraham Accords." Their timing was no accident. Just weeks earlier, President Trump had made headlines by declaring in the Oval Office, "I will not allow Israel to annex the West Bank, nope, I will not allow it. It’s not gonna happen."
The Democrats’ letter argued that annexation or the expansion of Israeli settlements would not only endanger the possibility of a Palestinian state but also put at risk the diplomatic achievements of the Abraham Accords. These agreements, brokered during Trump’s first term, normalized relations between Israel and several Arab nations—a rare bright spot in decades of Middle Eastern diplomacy. The senators cautioned, "Such steps have elicited deep concern and opposition from Arab partners and place at risk your past achievements under the Abraham Accords and the possibility of expanding them further."
But the letter didn’t just focus on Israeli actions. It unequivocally condemned terrorism, referencing the "horrific terrorist attack of Oct. 7, 2023," and insisted that violence would not bring the region any closer to peace. The senators emphasized, "It is essential that the United States reject measures that undermine the viability of a negotiated resolution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict." The message: progress in the region depends on dialogue, not unilateral moves or violence from any side.
While the Democrats rallied around the banner of diplomacy, the larger political landscape in Washington was anything but harmonious. On the very same day, Democratic Senator Jeff Merkley of Oregon was deep into a marathon speech on the Senate floor, protesting President Trump’s agenda amid a grinding government shutdown that had stretched into its 22nd day. According to Reuters, Merkley began speaking shortly before 6:30 p.m. EDT on October 21, determined to call attention to what he described as an "authoritarian takeover" and policies that, in his words, allowed "families lose and billionaires win."
Merkley’s filibuster wasn’t a one-off event. In fact, he became the third congressional Democrat in 2025 to deliver an extended speech in protest. Earlier that year, Senator Cory Booker of New Jersey shattered records with a speech that lasted over 25 hours, surpassing the legendary filibuster of Strom Thurmond in 1957. House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries of New York also took his turn, speaking for nearly nine hours on July 3 to delay a sweeping Republican tax-cut and spending bill. Jeffries’ feat even outlasted the previous record held by former Republican leader Kevin McCarthy, who spoke for more than eight hours in 2021.
These marathon speeches, while dramatic, highlight the limited power Democrats currently wield in Washington. With Republicans holding majorities in both the House and Senate as of October 2025, Democrats have been forced to rely on procedural tactics to make their voices heard. One such tool is the Senate’s 60-vote threshold, which the minority party has used repeatedly to block legislation, including a stopgap funding bill passed by House Republicans—and one Democrat—on September 19, 2025. It’s a classic case of using every lever available when the legislative deck is stacked against you.
Senator Merkley’s overnight speech, as noted by Reuters, was more than just a show of endurance. He framed it as a mission to "ring the alarm bells" about what he sees as dangerous trends in American governance. "I want to repeat my main mission statement for being here through the night, and that's to ring the alarm bells ... at this authoritarian takeover and of this strategy of doing authoritarian bills in which families lose and billionaires win," Merkley declared. His words, echoing through the mostly empty chamber, were intended as a rallying cry to the public and a warning to his colleagues.
Meanwhile, the standoff over the government shutdown dragged on, with no clear end in sight. As of late October 2025, the shutdown had entered its 22nd day, affecting millions of Americans and fueling frustration on both sides of the aisle. The impasse was triggered by a standoff over Republican-led spending bills and Democratic opposition, with the latter group leveraging procedural delays and public speeches to highlight their concerns.
In the midst of this legislative gridlock, the foreign policy debate over Israel and Palestine took on added urgency. The Democrats’ letter to President Trump underscored a rare moment of near-unity within the party, with only Senator Fetterman breaking ranks. Their message was one of caution: don’t let short-term political pressures or unilateral actions derail decades of painstaking diplomacy. The shadow of the October 7, 2023, terrorist attack loomed large over the discussion, serving as a grim reminder of the stakes involved.
For President Trump, the situation presents a delicate balancing act. His public vow to block Israeli annexation of the West Bank won praise from Senate Democrats, but also drew scrutiny from both supporters and critics of his broader Middle East policies. The Abraham Accords, a signature achievement of his first term, remain a point of pride for the administration. Yet, as the Democrats warned, those gains could be jeopardized if the peace process stalls or if new flashpoints emerge.
As the nation watches Congress wrestle with both domestic and international challenges, the question remains: can lawmakers find common ground, or will partisan battles continue to define the landscape? For now, the Senate Democrats’ letter and Senator Merkley’s marathon speech serve as reminders that, even in the face of adversity, voices of dissent and calls for diplomacy still have a place in American politics.
The days ahead promise more debate, more speeches, and—if history is any guide—a few surprises. But for those hoping for progress on the Israeli-Palestinian front, the message from most Senate Democrats is clear: the path to peace runs through negotiation, not unilateral action.
