A coalition of 19 primarily Democratic lawmakers, including Senators Bernie Sanders, Elizabeth Warren, Jeff Merkley, and Peter Welch, has urged Secretary of State Antony Blinken to explain why Congress was bypassed for arms sales to Israel.
The lawmakers stressed the importance of congressional oversight to ensure alignment with humanitarian principles and U.S. law regarding arms transfers.
Blinken had made two emergency determinations in December, allowing the immediate transfer of hundreds of millions in military equipment to Israel, bypassing the standard 20-day review period by congressional committees.
The lawmakers, acknowledging the rarity of such emergency declarations, emphasized the need to evaluate arms transfers’ consistency with U.S. policies such as the Leahy Law, restricting aid to security forces facing credible accusations of human rights violations.
They sought answers from the State Department on issues including the determination of emergencies necessitating immediate transfers, the purpose of supplying 155mm shells to Israel, efforts to mitigate civilian casualties, and Leahy Law vetting for human rights violations by Israeli forces.
The lawmakers expressed concern that the administration’s strong support for Israel’s actions in Gaza is becoming a political challenge for President Joe Biden, particularly among progressive Democrats, Muslim communities, and younger voters dissatisfied with his handling of the conflict.
The State Department spokesperson, Matt Miller, defended the department’s adherence to the law, stating that they followed the prescribed process and engaged with leading members of Congress in the decision-making.
The lawmakers requested responses from the State Department by February 9, emphasizing the need for transparency and accountability in arms transfers to Israel.
