More than 400 European parliamentarians have urged leaders to use US President Joe Biden's new administration as an opportunity to stop what they term Israel's "de-facto annexation" of territory in the West Bank.
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According to the French news agency AFP, hundreds of European politicians serving in national legislatures and senates or in the European parliament signed the letter.
Addressed to European foreign ministers and EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell, the letter argues that "the Biden administration presents a chance to correct course" in Middle East diplomacy.
"The previous US administration left the conflict farther away from peace than ever," it added.
Former President Donald Trump broke with much of the long-failed international consensus concerning the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
Trump recognised Jerusalem as Israel's "undivided capital" and moved Washington's embassy there, despite dire warnings of an uptick of violence and blowback that did not materialize.
The State Department under Trump also said it no longer viewed Jewish settlements in the West Bank as illegal.
"However, developments on the ground clearly point to a reality of rapidly progressing de facto annexation, especially through accelerated settlement expansion and demolitions of Palestinian structures," said the letter.
"Europe must work with the Biden administration, countries in the region and the parties on the ground to prevent unilateral action undermining the possibility of peace, advance the rights and security of all people under Israel's effective control."
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The European Union insists any viable Israeli-Palestinian peace deal must be based on Israel's pre-1967 borders, i.e. 1949 borders - a condition rejected across much of the Israeli political spectrum as being almost literally indefensible.
Biden has indicated his administration will restore US opposition to West Bank settlements expansion but does not intend to move the US embassy back to Tel Aviv.
i24NEWS contributed to this report.
