US Senator Jeanne Shaheen, a Democrat from New Hampshire, has blocked a $2.8 billion arms sale to Israel, citing concerns over the potential use of the weapons against Palestinian civilians. According to reports, Shaheen, a senior member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, used her authority to halt the sale, which included 40,000 bombs weighing one ton each. The move is seen as a significant development in the US-Israel relationship, with Shaheen expressing concerns over Israel's actions in Gaza, Syria, and the West Bank.
The arms sale, which was approved by the Trump administration, was met with opposition from Shaheen and other Democrats, who were disappointed that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had not taken steps to address their concerns. The sale had been opposed by some lawmakers due to concerns over the potential humanitarian impact on civilians in Gaza. Shaheen's decision to block the sale was seen as a rare instance of a US lawmaker taking a stand against a major military aid package to Israel.
According to The Hill, Shaheen and other Democrats were "disappointed" that Netanyahu had not taken steps to address their concerns over Israel's actions in Gaza, Syria, and the West Bank. The lawmaker's concerns centered on the potential use of the weapons against Palestinian civilians, as well as Israel's actions in the occupied territories. Shaheen's move was seen as a significant departure from the usual bipartisan support for Israel in the US Congress.
The blocked sale included 40,000 bombs weighing one ton each, which had been cleared for sale by the Trump administration. However, the Biden administration had previously delayed the sale, citing concerns over the potential humanitarian impact on civilians in Gaza. Shaheen's decision to block the sale was seen as a significant development in the US-Israel relationship, with some lawmakers expressing concerns over Israel's actions in the region.
Gregory Meeks, chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, also announced that he would suspend the arms sale to Israel, citing concerns over whether the Netanyahu government would use the weapons in accordance with international humanitarian law and US law. Meeks' decision was seen as a significant development, as it marked a rare instance of a US lawmaker taking a stand against a major military aid package to Israel.
Shaheen's decision to block the sale was made possible by her position as a senior member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. Under US law, lawmakers have the authority to block certain arms sales exceeding a certain threshold. Shaheen's move was seen as a significant demonstration of her commitment to human rights and humanitarian law, as well as her concerns over Israel's actions in the region.
The blocked arms sale is seen as a significant development in the US-Israel relationship, with some lawmakers expressing concerns over Israel's actions in Gaza, Syria, and the West Bank. Shaheen's decision to block the sale was seen as a rare instance of a US lawmaker taking a stand against a major military aid package to Israel. The move is likely to have significant implications for the US-Israel relationship, as well as for the humanitarian situation in the region.
Key points
- US Senator Jeanne Shaheen blocks $2.8 billion arms sale to Israel, citing concerns over potential use against Palestinian civilians.
- The blocked sale included 40,000 bombs weighing one ton each, which had been cleared for sale by the Trump administration.
- The move is seen as a significant development in the US-Israel relationship, with some lawmakers expressing concerns over Israel's actions in Gaza, Syria, and the West Bank.
