WASHINGTON – Progressive congressman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez yesterday led efforts to block United States arms sales to Israel, a move that is unlikely to succeed but highlighted tensions among Democratic lawmakers grappling with the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
A clear majority of Republicans back Israel in its military confrontation with Gaza that authorities said has claimed more than 220 Palestinian lives and 12 Israeli ones.
Democrats are more divided, leaving President Joe Biden’s administration under pressure from his party’s liberal flank.
“At a time when so many, including President Biden, support a ceasefire, we should not be sending ‘direct attack’ weaponry to Prime Minister (Benjamin) Netanyahu to prolong this violence,” said Ocasio-Cortez in a statement.
“The harsh truth is that these weapons are being sold by the US to Israel with the clear understanding that the vast majority of them will be used to bomb Gaza,” added Rashida Tlaib, a US congressman of Palestinian origin.
The US is Israel’s largest supplier of military equipment.
Congress is formally informed on May 5 of the latest sale to Israel’s Defence Ministry, totalling US$735 million (RM3.04 billion).
According to congressional rules, lawmakers have until today to present and approve a resolution opposing the sale if it is to be blocked.
Democratic leaders, who do not support the resolution, have not set a date for a vote.
A substantial majority of American Jews identify as Democrats, and the party traditionally has supported Israel, albeit with a few critical voices.
The latest Middle East bloodshed, however, has stirred up fresh criticism of the Jewish state among moderate Democrats.
But the new initiative to block the arms sale remains, at least for now, limited to the party’s left wing.
Some moderate Democrats have mulled asking for a postponement, but ultimately retreated.
The Republicans, on the other hand, reiterated their unwavering support for Israel yesterday, with several senators taking to the floor “to demand Biden and his administration stand firmly with our ally Israel”.
One of the senators, conservative Ted Cruz, slammed Democrats on Twitter, saying Ocasio-Cortez and her close allies are “gunning for a promotion from press secretaries for Hamas to defence secretaries for Hamas”.
Biden toughened his tone yesterday, telling Netanyahu that he expects “significant de-escalation” in Israel’s military confrontation with the Palestinians.
After a ninth night of violence, Israel intensified its airstrikes on Gaza yesterday. – AFP, May 20, 2021
