Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-MD) is putting forth an amendment to Joe Biden’s requested supplemental bill that would send more than $14 billion to Israel and $30 billion to Ukraine in additional military funding (as well as another $30 billion-plus in economic aid to Ukraine).
His amendment, which now has the support of 17 other senators, would place three requirements on ALL military aid to any other country:
1) The use of any US-provided arms must comply with international humanitarian law;
2) Aid recipients must cooperate with U.S. efforts to provide humanitarian assistance in conflict zones, and
3) reports on such compliance must be made regularly to Congress.
In truth, compliance with IHL is already required by US law, but as we know all too tragically, this is not always enforced, especially on Israel.
The following senators are supporting Van Hollen’s amendment:
Tina Smith (D-Minn.),
Raphael Warnock (D-Ga.),
Laphonza Butler (D-Calif.),
Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.),
Jon Ossoff (D-Ga.),
Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.),
Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.),
Peter Welch (D-Vt.),
Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.),
Tom Carper (D-Del.),
Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.),
Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.),
Mazie Hirono (D-Hawaii),
Ed Markey (D-Mass.)
Brian Schatz (D-HI)
Dick Durbin (D-IL)
Tim Kaine (D-VA)
If your senator is not among them, please contact their office and demand they join Van Hollen in a simple statement that all US aid must comply with US law. Do so even if you are sure your senator won’t listen—they still need to hear this. And if your senator is on this list, let them know they have done something very positive in your eyes.
Please bear in mind that making this call in no way implies that you support this supplemental bill. But supporting Van Hollen here is a positive step in chipping away at Israel’s impenetrable shield of impunity. This matters. Please contact your senators.