January 9, 2024—A group of 12 Senate Democrats are pushing back against President Biden’s request to gain authority to permit arms transfers to Israel without going through the normal process.
Biden’s Arms Transfers To Israel Since October 7
Since October 7, 2023, President Joe Biden has twice invoked emergency authority in shipping military weapons to Israel without first securing congressional authority. On December 9, Biden released a $106.5 million sale of high-explosive anti-tank shells, according to the Defense Security Cooperation Agency. Notably, it included consulting services by “U.S. Government and contractor engineering, technical, and logistics support services; studies and surveys; and other related elements of logistics and program support.”
The second unauthorized sale was for $147.5 million of artillery rounds and related equipment.
The U.S. Arms Export Control Act requires the president to seek congressional review of arms sales to foreign or commercial buyers. But Biden bypassed that law, citing emergency authority.
Congress Is Back And Asserting Its Say
This week, Congress is back in session and considering Biden’s $106 billion supplemental bill. It includes more than $10 billion in military assistance for Israel—already the largest receiver of U.S. military aid.
In that supplemental, the Biden administration wants to give itself the authority to make arms transfers without congressional approval.
Twelve Senate Democrats are pushing back. They include Sens. Tim Kaine, Martin Heinrich, Chris Van Hollen, Jeff Merkley, Elizabeth Warren, Peter Welch, Ben Ray Luján, Dick Durbin, Brian Schatz, Jeanne Shaheen, Raphael Warnock, Tom Carper, and Chris Murphy.
Sen. Kaine said he supports U.S. aid for Israel’s defenses but believes it should face the same standard as other countries. After the second unauthorized sale, Kaine released a statement.
“Just as Congress has a crucial role to play in all matters of war and peace, Congress should have full visibility over the weapons we transfer to any other nation,” Kaine said. “Unnecessarily bypassing Congress means keeping the American people in the dark.”
Today, Kaine filed an amendment to legislation intending to block Biden from bypassing Congress’s authority.
Meanwhile, Independent Sen. Bernie Sanders opposes sending additional aid to Israel. In a speech last week, Sanders said Israel’s warfare on Gaza is “grossly disproportionate, immoral, and in violation of international law.”
