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Press Release by Sen. Bernie Sanders
Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) today announced his intention to next week file Joint Resolutions of Disapproval (JRD) that would block the sale of offensive U.S. weaponry to Israel. The JRD is the only mechanism available to Congress to prevent an arms sale from advancing.
In August, the Biden Administration approved a series of arms sales to Israel totaling more than $20 billion. The sales include several systems that are directly tied to tens of thousands of civilian deaths in Gaza. The export of these weapons would clearly violate the criteria laid out in the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 and the Arms Export Control Act (AECA).
“On October 7, 2023, Hamas waged a terrorist attack against Israel, killing 1,200 innocent people and taking over 240 hostages,” said Sanders. “Israel, of course, had the right to defend itself against Hamas. It did not, however, have the right to wage an all-out war against the Palestinian people, which is what Prime Minister Netanyahu’s extremist government has done. The result: More than 41,000 Palestinians have been killed and nearly 95,000 injured – 60 percent of whom are women, children, or elderly people. Further, as a result of Israel’s blocking of humanitarian aid into Gaza, many thousands of children there face malnutrition and even starvation.”
“Sadly, and illegally, much of the carnage in Gaza has been carried out with U.S.-provided military equipment,” Sanders continued. “Providing more offensive weapons to continue this disastrous war would violate U.S. and international law. The sales would reward Netanyahu’s extremist government, even as it continues to cause massive destruction in Gaza, undermine the prospects of a ceasefire deal that would secure the release of the hostages, and advance its effort to illegally annex the West Bank. Congress must act to save lives, uphold U.S. and international law, and stand up for U.S. interests. We must end our complicity in Israel’s illegal and indiscriminate military campaign, which has caused mass civilian death and suffering.”
The Foreign Assistance Act and the AECA require that arms transfers must be consistent with internationally-recognized human rights, advance U.S. foreign policy interests, and avoid the association of the United States with any human rights violations. These sales clearly fall short on each measure. Israel is also in clear violation of Section 620I of the Foreign Assistance Act, which states that:
“No assistance shall be furnished … to any country when it is made known to the President that the government of such country prohibits or otherwise restricts, directly or indirectly, the transport or delivery of United States humanitarian assistance.”
This is U.S. law, applying to both government-to-government foreign military sales (FMS) of major defense articles and services as well as the issuance of export licenses for the direct commercial sales (DCS) of major defense articles and services from private companies.
The noticed sales include:
- Joint Direct Attack Munitions, or JDAMs ($262 million)
- 120mm tank rounds ($774.1 million)
- 120mm high explosive mortar rounds ($61.1 million)
- Medium Tactical Vehicles ($583.1 million)
- Up to fifty new F-15IA multi-role fighter aircraft, as well as upgrades to twenty-five current Israeli F-15s, plus additional equipment ($18.82 billion)
Reliable human rights monitors have rigorously documented numerous incidents involving these systems leading to unacceptable civilian death and harm. The Administration’s own report pursuant to National Security Memorandum 20 (NSM-20) concluded that these weapons “have been used by Israeli security forces since October 7 in instances inconsistent with its IHL [international humanitarian law] obligations or with established best practices for mitigating civilian harm.”
Blocking these sales would be in keeping with actions taken by the international community and some of our closest allies. The United Kingdom, Germany, Italy, Spain, Canada, Belgium, and the Netherlands have all acted in recent months to stop or restrict offensive arms deliveries due to the high risk they could be used in violation of international law. The United Nations bodies and numerous humanitarian organizations have also called for an end to the arms shipments fueling the conflict.
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Categories: Congress
That all sounds about right from one of America’s most well known self-hating jews…and coming just after the pager attacks…where the new slogan is “from the river to the sea, sure now harder to take a pee”…
It is Hamas alone that is responsible for Palestinian deaths. They initiated this war, knowing full well that Israel would respond. And true to form, Hamas cowards hide under skirts, hospital beds, and nursery schools, forcing their own people to act as human sandbags and bullet sponges. They will not show their faces, dress as women, and skulk like cockroaches.
Do you know who DOESN’T care about Palestinian casualties? HAMAS!! For them, it’s the cost of doing business. But as usual, the Left sides with the criminal.
I guess Bernie hasn’t read Isaiah 41.
While it is not right to send all kinds of US weapons to kill people and inflict all kinds of casualties, famine, medical shortages, etc., it is okay for the US government to allocate millions of dollars to agencies like Planned Parenthood so that they can perform abortions, killing innocent babies, doing transgender surgeries etc, etc. Where is the justice in allowing millions of people to die in the US but try to prevent human tragedies in another country?
…and those millions killed using money from US taxpayers is in full violation of the Hyde Amendment. Bernie knows this and remains in denial.
Again, Vermont’s Barking Baffoon Sanders, showing he’s a moron, Hey Bernie,
when ” Hamas ” Palestine bombs Israel there was going to be consequences !!
If we can supply ” Billions ” of war goods to Ukraine, and yes Bernie thought this was a good plan, but now he wants to stop support to one of our ” real allies…………..
Vermont we deserve better, vote this clown out and send him packing back to NY
Paul’s resolution: no more Bernie!
While the Bern is sopping gun & ammo to Israel, why not do the same with all the uS government agencies that got millions of guns and ammo in many depts like the PO, IRS, for instance. Much of this happened under BO. Because of the gov buying so much ammo, even .22LR, citizens suffered a huge shortage. Bern’s priories are on Pluto.
Knowing how the Bern got very rich, millionaire, by being in government for years (and not accomplishing much), I’ve contacted him while he was chair of the VA in the Senate. I had VA issues and many Vets and still do, (look at the Veterans today. There was no answer from him. His help would have helped millions. May be if he got paid to act, seems the VA might be a better functional place. This leads to the Israel situation and his stand off. Bet if The Bern got payola his position on Israel would be 180 degs opposite. Money talks and power people respond. We know where he stands each day, He’ll leave Congress like Sen Robert Bird D-WVA, horizontal of old age, his soul was tired.
Paging Bernie !!!
This was so funny, and so bad at the same time!! ;o)
LOL 😅
שלום
Sanders, a Jew, who at every chance will turn his back on people he shares a blood connection with. Every time he speaks I feel a little more ashamed that he is our Vermont Senator. (Maybe Matt Hill will be at him in November). It is time for Sanders and his socialistic agenda to retire. Maybe sell his homes (all 3) and buy a house in Cuba or Venezuela.
Bern must have done the math that shows him there are more Hamas-supporting, voting -age, college students in Vt. than there are Jews. He must be about ready to liquidate his USA properties and spend his remaining years relaxing at his Black Sea dacha.
It’s obvious that Bernie has little Bernies and Bernices working from out of the commissar ‘s local or Moscow offices. Bernie’s army of lefties who hate Israel and America but sure can spin Palestine propaganda. Never let the facts get in your way of a neat alt-left PR stunt.The casualty figures were conveniently lifted from The Gazan Health Authority who are, of course, Hamas. Pathetic. פ’טר פרננדס
I heard those pagers or cellphones that blew up in the pockets and faces of people in Lebanon were made in Taiwan? Better living through detonating technology! I heard an Iranian Ambassabor had one? Seems odd we have enemies and frenemies inside the USA supplying support to both sides of the conflicts all over the globe. Who should we vote for this selection season? Iran, China, Ukraine, or Isreal? Our pie and their fingers pulling all the strings….no wonder so many are so confused.
Now, if pagers and cellphones start blowing up in this country, who will you blame, the manufacture of the device or a covert operation trying to whip up another war. We really do not need any more false flag operations.
These commies do and say what they want. They are in almost total control of our country and they don’t care if we know. Bernie is one of the many commies and he needs to be voted out, if it’s not too late. Dominion machines are probably being used to change the votes. And probably have been for several elections if not more. That’s the only answer as to why Vermont went from a red state to blue in a matter of a couple decades. 😡