Prohibit Trump from Sending Military Support to Israel?
This prohibits the President from sending certain weapons and related military services to Israel, including bunker-busting bombs, smart bombs, and artillery shells, unless two conditions are met: First, Congress passes a law explaining how these weapons can be used. Second, Israel guarantees in writing that it will use them only for those purposes and in line with U.S. and international law, including human rights rules.
Sponsor: Rep. Delia Ramirez (Democrat, Illinois, District 3)
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Opponents say
• "As our strongest ally in the Middle East, it is in the vital interest of the United States to stand together with Israel against a rising tide of extremism. Our two nations must show the courage necessary to thwart existential threats to Israel and to make the hard choices necessary to ensure peace." Source: Rep. Paul Gosar (Republican, Arizona, District 9)
• "Mr. President, the world has seen the evil of Hamas and its indifference to life. And that is precisely why Israel must succeed in removing the threat of Hamas from its borders. When Democrats do things like set red lines around an offensive operation into Rafah, they are supporting the conditions that will perpetuate this terror. No other nation would accept this threat just miles over its border. And we must not ask our longstanding ally, Israel, to make such a dangerous exception…Mr. President, our focus should be on supporting our ally Israel and working for a future where both Israelis and Palestinians can live free from terror like Hamas’s. And that requires clear-eyed focus on the task at hand of helping our ally defeat these terrorists, bring the hostages home, and restore peace." Source: Sen. John Thune (Republican, South Dakota)
Proponents say
• "Netanyahu and Trump are a lethal, unaccountable, extremist duo. Trump has bypassed Congressional oversight on weapons transfers. The Israeli government is currently escalating attacks on the civilian population of Gaza. They are both out of control. Congress needs to assert its oversight authority. Enough is enough. By introducing the Block the Bombs Act, a broad coalition is listening to the American people who don't want their taxpayers' money to continue supporting gross violations of US, international, and humanitarian law." Source: Rep. Delia Ramirez (Democrat, Illinois, District 3)
• "Self-defense cannot be justification for killing tens of thousands of people, imposing a humanitarian blockade, or forcing the displacement of a population. And yet, this is exactly what the Netanyahu Government has done for more than a year in Gaza. The United States shouldn’t facilitate this any longer by transferring offensive weapons to Israel that will be used to prolong and compound this mass suffering and death. While I will always support the Iron Dome and other defensive systems, I believe we can’t in good conscience send offensive weapons systems that have caused significant civilian casualties and violated U.S. and international law." Source: Rep. Sara Jacobs (Democrat, California, District 51)
• "We’ve documented how the Israeli government has collectively punished the civilian population, deprived the population of objects indispensable to its survival, and used starvation as a weapon of war. This year, Human Rights Watch found that US officials are complicit in Israel’s war crimes and will remain so unless and until weapons are suspended. Legislation like the Block the Bombs Act is long overdue. We hope members will support this effort in recognition of the humanity and dignity of the population suffering in Gaza and to bring US actions in line with US and international law" Source: Ida Sawyer, Director for Crisis and Conflict of Human Rights Watch
- Ramirez, Jacobs, Jayapal, Pocan, 18 Members of Congress Introduce Legislation to Condition Weapons to Israel, Save Lives (Press Release)
- Israel and the Palestinians: History of the Conflict Explained (BBC)
- U.S. Aid to Israel in Four Charts (Council on Foreign Relations)
- Gaza is the Land of No Good Options (Rand)
- Rep. Delia Ramirez's Largest Donors (OpenSecrets)
