Eleven Democratic senators led by Sen. Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) are urging congressional leaders to strip three provisions from the annual defense bill that would lock in deeper US military and intelligence ties with Israel,
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BREAKING: Eleven Democratic senators led by Sen. Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) are urging congressional leaders to strip three provisions from the annual defense bill that would lock in deeper US military and intelligence ties with Israel, citing Israel's conduct in Gaza, the West Bank and the region.
The three provisions they want cut:
Section 1217 (Senate defense bill): creates a "United States-Israel Defense Technology Cooperation Initiative" for joint weapons production and research in AI, quantum computing, biotechnology and cyberwarfare
Section 219 (House defense bill): creates the same initiative
Section 618 (Senate intelligence bill): requires the US to "expand and enhance intelligence sharing" with Israel and bars it from being "suspended, reduced, or otherwise materially limited"
The senators warn the plan would hand Israel leverage over US weapons, noting Israel already used a missile defense deal to keep US Iron Dome batteries from Ukraine. They quote Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu calling the initiative "my plan," and cite reports that the U.S. Defense Intelligence Agency has raised Israel's counterintelligence threat to its highest level.
Signers include Sens. Elizabeth Warren, Bernie Sanders, Patty Murray, Brian Schatz, Andy Kim, Ed Markey, Jeff Merkley, Peter Welch, Tina Smith and Ron Wyden. The letter is addressed in part to Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer.
posted by Satish Sharma at
06:34
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