Statement on Introduction of Joint Resolutions of Disapproval on Weapons Sales to Israel

In response to the introduction by Senator Bernie Sanders (I-VT) of Joint Resolutions of Disapproval to block new sales of more than $20 billion dollars in offensive US weapons to Israel, Center for International Policy Vice President for Government Affairs Dylan Williams issued the following statement:

“The resolutions introduced by Senator Bernie Sanders and his colleagues are an appropriate, measured, and sadly necessary response to a security partner’s repeated violations of US and international law. These Senators should be applauded for taking concrete action to enforce the requirement that other countries only use American weapons for legitimate defense purposes and in accordance with the law of war.

“Israel has the same right as any other country to defend its people from attacks and war crimes like those perpetrated in the Hamas-led assault on October 7th. It also has the same obligation as every other country and combatant to abide by international humanitarian law – and as a US security assistance recipient, relevant American law – in doing so.

“The evidence is overwhelming that Israel has failed to abide by standards set in US and international law in its Gaza campaign. The obscene civilian casualty figures, the targeting of schools, shelters and hospitals known to house large numbers of the displaced and wounded, and the restriction of the delivery of critical food and medicine speak to a pattern of flagrant disregard for its obligations under the law.

“Tragically, the Biden Administration has failed to enforce the law with regard to Israel, enabling the Netanyahu government to deepen and expand a campaign in Gaza that has killed tens of thousands of civilians, subjected hundreds of thousands more to malnutrition and disease, and left the territory in ruin. Even as Netanyahu’s own negotiators revealed that the Israeli Prime Minister was obstructing a ceasefire and hostage release agreement, President Biden continued to supply weapons to Israel in violation of US law and his own administration’s policies. Now, as hostilities between Israel and Hezbollah escalate and large numbers of Lebanese civilians are being subjected to the horrors already visited on the people of Gaza, the administration is preparing to send more than $20 billion in new weapons to the Netanyahu government.

“We welcome Senator Sanders’ initiative to put a stop to this carnage and US complicity in it. As these resolutions will not be voted on for several weeks due to the pre-election recess, we again call on the Biden administration to do what it should have done months ago, and immediately suspend offensive arms transfers to Israel.”

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