Six senior House Democrats sent a letter to President Biden on Saturday urging him to invoke US foreign assistance laws to suspend military aid to Israel due to the country’s starvation blockade on Gaza
“Given the catastrophic and devolving humanitarian situation in Gaza, we urge you to enforce the Humanitarian Aid Corridor Act (Section 620I of the Foreign Assistance Act) and, as required by that law, make clear to the Israeli government that so long as Israel continues to restrict the entry of humanitarian aid into Gaza, the continued provision of US security assistance to Israel would constitute a violation of existing US law and must be restricted,” the letter reads.
Section 620I of the Foreign Assistance Act says that no assistance shall be given “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.”
Israel’s blockade and restrictions on aid have put Gaza’s population on the brink of famine. Secretary of State Antony Blinken recently acknowledged that 100% of Gaza’s population is “experiencing severe levels of acute food insecurity,” but the Biden administration continues to provide unconditional military support for the Israeli campaign.
The letter to Biden comes as Blinken is supposed to certify whether Israel has made credible and reliable written commitments to use US weapons according to US and international law. Israel submitted a letter this month claiming it will comply with the law, and the deadline for the US certification is Monday.
Subsection (b) of Section 620I says that the president can waive the restriction if he believes providing military aid is in the US’s “national security interest.” US support for the Israeli slaughter of Palestinians in Gaza provoked an uptick in attacks on US forces in the region and Houthi attacks on Israel-linked commercial shipping, which the US has responded to by launching a new bombing campaign in Yemen. The risk of a major regional war continues to rise, but American politicians still claim that supporting Israel’s genocidal campaign is in the US national interest.
The letter sent to Biden was signed by Reps. Joaquin Castro (D-TX), James P. McGovern (D-MA), Sara Jacobs (D-CA), Jan Schakowsky (D-IL), Barbara Lee (D-CA), and Chellie Pingree (D-ME). Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) and seven Democratic senators sent a similar letter to Biden earlier this month.
Israel’s undeclared nuclear weapons stockpile also violates US foreign assistance laws that prohibit US aid to nuclear-armed states that don’t sign the Non-Proliferation Treaty. The US gets around this law by not officially acknowledging that Israel has nukes.
If the Rethugs actually wanted to impeach Biden they could just go after him for violating the Leahy Law, which prohibits sending weapons to any group involved in genocide. That’s really the clearest demonstration possible that their impeachment hearings were just for show.
They impeach him for that, they indict themselves.
Which only reminds me of the charges against Putin in the ICC, that turned out to be for removing orphans from an active war zone.
It was the only ‘crime’ they themselves had not perpetrated.
How can they impeach Biden and at the same time carry on with Biden’s election campaign? It will look too silly even for them.
But they’ve broken the same laws themselves countless times haven’t they?
Bingo!
If they were not morally bankrupt they would have acted a long time ago, after all, this is nothing new. The only thing that has changed is the election has come closer.
They don’t really mean it, this is election campaign strategy.
You took those words out of my mouth.No matter what they say they don’t mean it. Just another in the long lineup of lies and lip service prior to an election they are going to lose.
“”prior to an election they (dems) are going to lose.””
the problem for americans is that there are only 2 choices and if the demos lose that means that the repos win which surely would be worse for the domestic US.
One can make the case that a Trump Presidency will bring about the Social and Political Revolution that we need so badly.
Eastern Europeans brought down Communism with a revolution, the Americans should have a revolution to bring down the Democratic and Republican Duopoly.
So what?
Do you think that Amerikkka under Trump would be worse than genocide?
You’ll still have your house, your car, food to eat and all the shit we take for granted that the Gazans do NOT have. Oh, you’ll probably have your life and limbs as well.
Of those seven Democrats, all but two (LEE and Castro) are signatories to the Discharge Petition to get the Senate Bill passed in the House, a bill which allocates billions to Israel, Ukraine and Taiwan for genocide and US proxy wars present and future. In fact McGovern initiated the Discharge Petition! Likewise of the Dem Senators signing the letter mentioned here, only Merkeley voted against the Senate bill that includes arms for Israel.
Hypocrisy abounds in the Dem Party.
Only the three states you have mentioned are victims of genocide,not perpetrators.
I didn’t see “Gaza” anywhere in his comment. That’s the only ongoing genocide taking place.
Read what Cratylus said-Israel,Taiwan,and the Ukraine are victims,not perpetrators.
Gaza is the victim. Israel is the perpetrator. There is no ongoing genocide anywhere else.
Both parties suck and are as guilty as sin.
The DemoPublican Party. United they stand! Grovel for AIPAC money.
The US aided the UK during the Falklands war,and rightly so-they are certainly nuclear armed. We will aid the UK and and France in any adventures in the Ukraine.
While I support any individual who follows their conscience,this is a small minority among the Democratic Senators. If Democratic Senators are not standing for a strong closure of our Southern Border while we are being invaded,what good are they?
Congressional aides are fixing to lose their jobs for writing the unauthorized letter that will soon be withdrawn, but not until after they apologize.
So we’re ruled by individuals who regard laws governing violations of human rights to be more in the nature of suggestions as opposed to laws governing actual behavior.
What’s the big deal? This is nothing new.
Biden is haunted by the AIPAC of Christmas Future.
Subsection (b) of Section 620I says that the president can waive the restriction if he believes providing military aid is in the US’s “national security interest.”
Which means it’s toothless.
“Which means it’s toothless.”
True…Guess my consolation hope is ‘bad optics’…
…that, once more, ‘unconditional support’ vs conditioning aid on Israel stopping its deliberate starvation – not even talking ‘ceasefire’ here – just doesn’t look good.
Hey Wars, how ya doin’?
I changed up my name a bit 😉
I’m doing well. I saw your old name on the comment section at Consortium News a while back, so I knew you were still alive and kicking. Were you “Clever Dog” here? Anyway, I missed you and it’s good to see you back.
wow did some of the dems actually grow a pair? oh wait =
Subsection (b) of Section 620I says that the president can waive the restriction if he believes providing military aid is in the US’s “national security interest.”
oh a loophole! turns out that those dems are merely posturing for the cameras.
oh sh*t too late! Biden already signed a new giveaway for Israel that would have first had to pass the house and then the senate before Biden ever even saw it =
https://news.antiwar.com/2024/03/24/government-funding-bill-signed-by-biden-includes-3-8-billion-in-military-aid-for-israel-cuts-funding-to-unrwa/
oh look at them all hauling ass to be the first in line to kiss the ass of the anti-humanity gang =
No more dough for Israel. Peace is Israel’s only choice and again, for their redemption….
No more dough for anybody.Send all illegal migrants and squatters back
Jake, these folks have a right to be here but their own countries need to get real about life for people. They all need a decent way to make a living and having a good peaceful life but their own countries need to be able to supply their people a decent living, visa vi, decent jobs and benefits…
Donna, read the book, “The Brothers” by Stephen Kinzer and also “The Devil’s Chessboard” by David Talbott. You will discover why these countries south of our border are in such bad shape and who is responsible.
Exactly Mary. We wonder why there are so many Venezuelans; it’s purely because we sanctioned their country out of existence.
Is the US responsible when 13 year old girls become pregnant? When a 19 year old woman has six children and no mate? when Mexican drug lords slaughter Mexicans?
And that’s why Mexico is in such bad shape? Because 13-year-old girls get pregnant and 19-year-old women have 6 kids with no mate? Seriously? Stereotype much? But yes, on the US being at fault for the cartels having so much power. That’s what the “war on drugs” did.
What right? Do they have a right to sit down at your table and devour? life can be very hard,but a woman of 19 with six kids has gotten herself into this fix,not society at large,and not US taxpayers.
Troops from the US and its allies illegally invading other nations should go back home and stay there. US Bases in other nations should also be shut down and the troops should go back home and stay there.
IsraHell isn’t “redeemable “, Donna.
Not after this. It will be tossed into the shit heap of history.
US cannot even enforce their own law… pathetic…!
The US only obeys the laws we make and want to
Add it to the list:
https://www.timesofisrael.com/lawsuit-claims-us-aid-to-israel-violates-atomic-pact/
The Foreign Assistance Act also “prohibits aid to nuclear powers who don’t sign the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty,” and amendments to the 1961 Foreign Aid Act (the Symington and Glenn amendments) prohibit aid to crypto-nuclear powers.
There might be a subtle change in Biden’s Israel-policy. The Security Council of the UN has just passed a resolution which demands the immediate cessation of warfare in Gaza. Our nation did not veto. However, as a member of the UN, our government is now obliged to stop all warfare in Gaza. Do not bet on that.
It’s not a change in policy, Dieter; it’s to try and save his own political ass.
Can you say “ President Trump”?
So, why did we abstain from calling for a ceasefire?
Because Joe Biden is a war criminal.
“Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) and seven Democratic senators sent a similar letter to Biden earlier this month.”
And how’d that work out for them? This is BS CYA election year moves by the same people who universally support Israel at all other times. It’s a joke with zero effect on Biden.
Richard: they’re just attempting to save their master by pretending that a handful of Dems have consciences. Failing miserably, I might add.
The Israeli far-right wants to empty the entire Gaza area of Palestinians. They think it’s the only way to stop the slaughter. The more that Israel is isolated by the world community, the more likely it will be for the entire Palestinian population in Gaza to be exiled. The primary cause the slaughter of Palestinians is the hostages that Hamas seized. Yet Hamas refuses to release them as part of a ceasefire. There is plenty of evil to go around there.
Are you neglecting to mention the thousands of Palestinian hostages being tortured and raped in IsraHelli prisons?
“The Israeli far-right wants to empty the entire Gaza area of Palestinians. They think it’s the only way to stop the slaughter.”
What!? They’re trying to empty Gaza of the Palestinians so they can stop the slaughter of Palestinians? Or are you implying that the Israelis are getting slaughtered? Either way, completely idiotic.
I’m merely implying what I’ve heard the Israeli-Right say. If that were to happen, would Wars r u.s. lift a finger tho help? I doubt it.
And I merely pointed out how stupid your comment was. But you ignored that and made another stupid statement. Doubling down on stupidity.
I think you are a very stupid person. All you can do is hurl insults and names at people you disagree with. I think you lack the intellectual or the psychiatric capacity to act in any other way. You haven’t made one intelligent statement, only trite slogans.
So, you hurl insults at me to prove your point? Ok genius. You back genocide and twist yourself into a pretzel trying to justify said genocide. I have no patience with scum like you. And yes, that’s another well-deserved insult hurled your way. Keep justifying genocide and the insults will continue.
I think you’re just a buffoon.
Like I give a rat’s ass. At least I’m not a genocide cheerleader who makes dumb ass analogies to justify Israel’s slaughter.
Oh look, Jamie didn’t even sign this useless sheep baaah.
Some democrats, (Reps. Joaquin Castro (D-TX), James P. McGovern (D-MA), Sara Jacobs (D-CA), Jan Schakowsky (D-IL), Barbara Lee (D-CA), and Chellie Pingree (D-ME). Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) and 7 Democratic senators), have a moral sense and they cannot approve of a genocide, wherever it takes place and who is being slaughtered.
Unfortunately, Joe Biden is B. Netanyahu’s puppet.
Biden is corrupt and he has no moral sense.
That applies also to Secretary of State Antony Blinken and to National Security advisor Jake Sullivan.
They are doing a huge damage to the United States around the world.
If the Nurenberg Charter is ever applied to them, they could be indicted.
Calling Genocide Joe Biden Nutandyahoo’s “puppet” is too mild; sounds like he is some lacky following orders, and thus should be let “off the hook”. Genocide Joe is more likely a full up partner in war crime with Nutandyahoo, and considering all the other evil he has his hands in around the world, namely the Ukraine, the bombing of the Nordstream pipeline, the bombings in Yemen, the stuff going on around China, possibly even that recent terror attack in Moscow ???, it may very well be that Genocide Joe is even the Mastermind behind this ongoing Gaza Genocide. Of course he is keeping his tracks well covered, but I’m convinced Genocide is a madman maniac way too dangerous to be anywhere near the White House. He has got to go.
He is no different now then what he has always been.If this was not so he never would have gotten elected.
Agree, Genocide Joe ain’t Fuckinyahu’s puppet; he’s his whore.
Bend over again, you decrepit, brain-dead old fuck!
“House Democrats Tell Biden To Enforce US Law and Suspend Military Aid to Israel” – law says no military aid to countries “blocking humanitarian aid”
1/ Note the “senior…Democrats[‘]” letter to Biden went out the same moment that Biden has signed a spending bill that not only gives Israel military aid – but that continues the US-led UNWRA aid block for the next year:
(see Antiwar’s piece today on Biden signing bill w/UNWRA funding cuts)
2/ Note further that – though the UNRWA cuts were Republican-driven – the White House is not just ‘going along with’ one piece of a larger spending bill:
rather, since cutting UNWRA aid, the White house has – as late as 3/15 – justified continuing the cuts, because ‘UNWRA OK’d evidence of charges.’
(“U.S. DOUBLES DOWN ON DEFUNDING UNRWA, Intercept, 3/22/24)
3/ That is…even since UNWRA has said it acted w/o Israeli evidence…
…and even as countries have said Israel provided no credible evidence…
…and even as countries that cut UNWRA aid have therefore restored aid…
…the US has refused to call out Israel’s unsupported allegations – a refusal that doubtless strengthened congressional Republicans and right-wing Democrats; and that – without a White House mandate to Congress and the public – weakened progressive resistance to the UNWRA cuts of the bill.
4/ Upshot: Even as Blinken pulls a sober face re the food crisis, the WH has – by action and default – supported Israel’s false claims, worsened the crisis it bemoans, and, thus, directly assisted Israel’s deliberate starvation policy.
There are Democrats telling Biden to suspend military aid to Israel, suspending military aid is not enough, they should demand he end all military and economic aid for good.
Israel is guilty of ethnic cleansing and genocide. It’s good that many people say Israel doesn’t deserve aid because of that. There’s another reason Israel doesn’t deserve aid, it’s not a Developing Nation. It is more than capable of standing on its own without aid from other nations.
The US goal is top prevent a cornered, desperate Israel from striking out will Nukes,and breaking the use of Nukes taboo. As far as developing nation,the US aided the UK during WW2.
The US and UK made the Germans elect Hitler because of their war against Germany during WWI. Woodrow Wilson was antiwar before the war started, once the war started, he declared war on Germany.
Yes