In introducing a resolution aimed at increased transparency, Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., said Tuesday that, “Very sensibly, the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 … requires that any security assistance or military equipment provided by the United States to any country must be used in line with internationally recognized human rights.” Thus, his question to his colleagues was simply this: “Do you support asking the State Department whether human rights violations may have occurred using U.S. equipment or assistance in this war?”
His resolution, Sanders noted, would not have reduced “a nickel” of the billions of dollars in military aid our nation provides Israel.
To be clear, Sanders noted, his resolution would not have reduced “a nickel” of the billions of dollars in military aid our nation provides Israel. Rather, it would have required the State Department to provide a report within 30 days of how U.S.-provided weapons are being used by the Israeli military in the Gaza war.
Even so, only 11 senators voted against a motion to table Sanders’ resolution: 10 Democrats and one Republican.
There are good-faith debates to be had about the war in Gaza. But whether one supports Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s administration’s military response to Hamas’ brutal Oct. 7 terrorist attacks, or denounces it for having killed more than 24,000 people, most of them women and children, there should be no debate as to whether the U.S. ought to know if the weapons it supplies are being used in violation of human rights laws.
As Sanders stated on the Senate floor Tuesday: “A vote for this resolution is simply to request more information on a tragic situation that the American people care deeply about. That’s it.”
Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., who echoed Sanders’ point that the resolution was intended to enforce the Foreign Assistance Act, said during Tuesday’s debate that “Prime Minister Netanyahu has to understand that he does not get a…
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