Bernie Sanders urges Senate to vote on bill that could halt military aid to Israel
OAN’s Elizabeth Volberding
1:16 PM – Tuesday, January 16, 2024
Vermont Senator and Democratic Socialist Bernie Sanders is urging the United States Senate to take action on a bill that could potentially halt military aid to Israel. The bill calls for a report on “possible human rights violations in Gaza” before any further aid is provided. Sanders is utilizing a provision in the Foreign Assistance Act to push for this vote.
Today, Sanders plans to compel the Senate to vote on his resolution, which would prompt the State Department to investigate whether Israel committed any human rights abuses using U.S. equipment or aid during its attack on Hamas in Gaza.
If approved, Sanders’ resolution would require the State Department to disclose any human rights violations that occurred during Israel’s retaliatory war efforts and blockade of Gaza following the initial attack by Hamas on October 7th.
If authorized, the State Department would have 30 days to produce a report to Congress examining any human rights violations that may have occurred during Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government’s military campaign. Sanders has criticized Israel’s retaliatory attacks as “indiscriminate and disproportionate military operations.”
The resolution is based on a section of the Foreign Assistance Act that allows Congress to direct the State Department to report on human rights issues related to any nation receiving security assistance from the United States. Sanders claims that this type of request has never been voted on since the act was passed in 1976.
The resolution, initially proposed by Sanders in December, cannot be altered and only requires a simple majority to pass. However, Congress would still need to navigate a separate resolution to modify security assistance provided to Israel. This resolution would need to pass both houses of Congress and be signed into law by President Joe Biden.
“In essence, we will be voting on a very simple question: Do you support asking the State Department whether human rights violations may have occurred using U.S. equipment or assistance in this war? This resolution is not prescriptive — it does not alter aid to Israel in any way. It simply requests that the State Department report on how our aid is being used,” Sanders asserted last week on the Senate floor.
Sanders, who is Jewish, had previously shown support for Israel but reportedly changed his position after facing criticism from leftist activists. He had volunteered in Israel in the 1960s and expressed solidarity with the country following the Hamas attack on October 7th, which claimed many innocent lives.
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How is Senator Bernie Sanders utilizing the Foreign Assistance Act to push for a bill addressing human rights violations in Gaza?
E Sanders (@SenSanders) January 16, 2024
In recent years, there has been a growing concern about human rights violations in conflict zones around the world. One such conflict is the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas in Gaza. Senator Bernie Sanders, a prominent figure in U.S. politics, is now urging the Senate to take action on a bill that could potentially halt military aid to Israel.
The bill, which Senator Sanders is pushing for, calls for a report on “possible human rights violations in Gaza” before any further aid is provided to Israel. Sanders is utilizing a provision in the Foreign Assistance Act to bring this issue to a vote.
The aim of the bill is to prompt the State Department to investigate whether Israel has committed any human rights abuses using U.S. equipment or aid during its attack on Hamas in Gaza. If approved, the resolution would require the State Department to disclose any human rights violations that occurred during Israel’s retaliatory war efforts and blockade of Gaza.
Sanders has been critical of Israel’s actions, calling them “indiscriminate and disproportionate military operations.” He believes that it is essential to hold nations accountable for their actions, especially when they receive security assistance from the United States.
The resolution proposed by Sanders cannot be altered and only requires a simple majority to pass. However, Congress would still need to navigate a separate resolution to modify security assistance provided to Israel. This resolution would need to pass both houses of Congress and be signed into law by President Joe Biden.
Sanders clarified that the resolution does not alter aid to Israel in any way; it simply requests that the State Department report on how the aid is being used. He expressed that it is important to ask whether U.S. equipment or assistance has been used in potential human rights violations.
It is worth noting that Sanders, who is Jewish, had previously shown support for Israel. However, he reportedly changed his position after facing criticism from leftist activists. In light of the recent attack by Hamas that claimed many innocent lives, he expressed solidarity with the country.
The bill proposed by Senator Sanders highlights the importance of transparency and accountability in providing military aid to other nations. It raises valid concerns about human rights violations and the responsible use of U.S. equipment and aid. The outcome of the Senate vote on this resolution will shed light on the stance of the U.S. government regarding these critical issues.
As debates continue in Congress and the global community about the conflict in Gaza, it remains crucial to prioritize the protection of human rights and work towards a peaceful resolution that respects the dignity and lives of all those affected.
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