Thirteen Republican state attorneys general are warning the United Kingdom and the Netherlands that sanctions targeting Israeli economic activity could lead to U.S. trade retaliation and force American states to divest from companies based in the two European countries.

In a letter sent Monday to the countries' ambassadors in Washington, the coalition was led by Iowa Attorney General Brenna Bird and included Alabama Attorney General Steve Marshall, Arkansas Attorney General Tim Griffin, Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier, Georgia Attorney General Chris Carr, Kansas Attorney General Kris Kobach, Louisiana Attorney General Liz Murrill, Mississippi Attorney General Lynn Fitch, Missouri Attorney General Catherine Hanaway, Montana Attorney General Austin Knudsen, Ohio Attorney General Andy Wilson, Oklahoma Attorney General Gentner Drummond and South Carolina Attorney General Alan Wilson.

The Republican officials called on both governments to abandon sanctions targeting economic activity in the West Bank, East Jerusalem and the Golan Heights. They argued that the restrictions threaten American businesses, undermine Israel's sovereignty and support the objectives of terrorist organizations Hamas and Hezbollah.

Bird said the sanctions could harm Iowa's economy by limiting trade opportunities with countries choosing to target Israel, which she described as one of America's closest allies in the Middle East.

The attorneys general also warned that federal and state anti-boycott laws could create legal and financial consequences for British and Dutch companies. Many states restrict government contracts with businesses that boycott Israel or require public investment funds to divest from companies participating in such efforts.

"Your anti-Israel sanctions may thus disqualify companies from your nations from contracting with our States, or require our States to divest from your companies," the letter stated.

The coalition also raised the possibility of pursuing remedies under federal trade law if the European governments maintain their restrictions, saying they reserved the right to take such action.

Britain has imposed sanctions targeting individuals and entities it says are involved in illegal Israeli settlements and settlement expansion. The Netherlands has pursued restrictions against extremist settlers and organizations accused of supporting them.

The Republican attorneys general rejected those justifications, arguing that the sanctions amount to an attempt by foreign governments to influence Israel's domestic policies. They further claimed that economic pressure on Israel advances objectives sought by Hamas and Hezbollah through violence against civilians.

The letter urged both governments to rescind or suspend the sanctions and work with American states to oppose antisemitism and terrorism.