Should the Senate prohibit sales of weapons and ammunition to Israel?
This joint resolution introduced in the U.S. Senate seeks to prohibit a proposed foreign military sale to Israel involving 32,739 120mm tank cartridges, including high-explosive multipurpose and anti-tank ammunition, along with related munitions, canisters, transportation, technical documentation, and support services. This resolution, submitted under the Arms Export Control Act, expresses congressional disapproval of the sale as detailed in Transmittal No. 24-10, published in the Congressional Record on September 10, 2024. The resolution has been referred to the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations for further consideration.
Sponsor: Sen. Bernie Sanders (Independent, Vermont)
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Opponents say
• "Israel is surrounded by enemies dedicated to its annihilation from Hamas to Hezbollah to the Houthis to most threateningly of all, Iran. These threats have been for a long time and will persist for many years into the future." Source: Sen. Chuck Schumer (Democrat, New York)
• "These tank munitions have a deliver date three years from now. They are replenishments. This is so Israel has the capacity to defend itself against future threats that we know are in the region, that are real…I don’t understand why we wouldn’t want to prevent Israel from having the technology to have precision use of its munitions." Source: Sen. Ben Cardin (Democrat, Maryland)
• "As the Biden White House stated in a memo to the Senate, ‘Now is the time to focus pressure on Hamas to release the hostages and stop the war. Cutting off arms from Israel would put this goal even further out of reach and prolong the war, not shorten it." Source: Halie Soifer, CEO of the Jewish Democratic Council of America
Proponents say
• "According to the United Nations, much of the international community, and every humanitarian organization on the ground in Gaze, Israel is clearly in violation of these laws, Under these circumstances, it is illegal for the U.S. government to provide Israel with more offensive weapons." Source: Sen. Bernie Sanders (Independent, Vermont)
• "However, the United States must use all available leverage, including the suspension of offensive weapons transfers, to de-escalate the violence and protect the lives of hostages, including Americans, Palestinian civilians, and all those impacted by the ongoing conflict. We are and have been deeply alarmed by the Israeli military’s conduct in Gaza, where independent human rights monitors have documented the use of U.S.-provided weaponry in violations of international law." Source: Joint Statement from House Democrats Rep. Jayapal (Washington, District 7), Rep. Castro (Texas, District 20), Rep. Schakowsky (Illinois, District 9), Rep. Doggett (Texas, District 37), Rep. McGovern (Massachusetts, District 2), Rep. Lee (California, District 12), Rep. Pocan (Wisconsin, District 2), Rep. Jacobs (California, District 51), and Rep. Balint (Vermont)
• "Voting yes on at least one resolution of disapproval sends a signal – seen throughout Washington, American politics, the Middle East and the world – that there is political will in Washington to object to the course of the war, to enforce American law and to use the leverage we have when Israel’s government consistently defies the American president’s will." Source: J Street President Jeremy Ben-Ami
- Sanders Announces Intention to File Joint Resolutions of Disapproval to Block Arms Sales to Israel (Press Release)
- Israel’s weapons: Where do they come from and who supplies them? (CNN)
- US approves sale to Israel of $20 billion weapons package (Reuters)
- What We Know About the Weapons the U.S. Sends to Israel (The New York Times)
- Sen. Bernie Sanders' Largest Donors (OpenSecrets)
