Senate Kills Measure Requiring Info On Israeli Moves In Gaza
The Senate voted in a largely bipartisan manner to table a resolution that would have required the State Department to report on Israel’s actions in Gaza after the country declared war on Hamas following an October 7 attack that killed around 1,300 people and led to the abduction of hundreds, including Americans.
This vote occurred after President Joe Biden bypassed Congress twice to approve weapon sales to Israel, which is continuing its operations in Gaza.
The resolution partly stated: “The Senate requests that the Secretary of State, not later than 30 days after the date of the adoption of this resolution, transmit to the Committee on Foreign Relations of the Senate and the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the House of Representatives, pursuant to section 502B(c) of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 (22 U.S.C. 2304(c)), a statement regarding Israel’s human rights practices that has been prepared in collaboration with the Assistant Secretary of State for Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor and the Office of the Legal Adviser.”
The resolution was tabled with a 72-11 vote, and 17 senators did not vote.
Earlier this month, some Senate Democrats expressed dissatisfaction with Biden’s decision to bypass Congress and send additional weapons to Israel amid its Gaza offensive.
According to the Washington Examiner, the Defense Department reported that Secretary of State Antony Blinken had informed Congress about a second emergency determination to approve over $147.5 million in equipment sales, including new fuses and chargers for 155 mm shells already purchased by the Israeli military.
Blinken stated: “Given the urgency of Israel’s defensive needs, the secretary notified Congress that he had exercised his delegated authority to determine an emergency existed, necessitating the immediate approval of the transfer.”
The emergency declaration allows the Executive Branch to waive the usual congressional review required for U.S. military equipment sales to other countries.
The Examiner further noted that this was the second emergency weapons sale to Israel approved by the Biden administration within a month without congressional approval. Blinken used the same powers earlier on December 9 to push through a separate $106.5 million tranche of weapons funding for nearly 14,000 rounds of tank ammunition.
These back-to-back emergency declarations sparked fresh criticism from Senate Democrats, who expressed concerns about the Israeli military's efforts to prevent civilian casualties in Gaza, where the death toll has surpassed 21,000 according to the Hamas-run health ministry.
Some Senate Democrats criticized the method used to authorize these sales. They argued that using an emergency determination bypassed an essential check on the Executive Branch.
“Unnecessarily bypassing Congress means keeping the American people in the dark,” Sen. Tim Kaine (D-VA) told Punchbowl News. “We need a public explanation of the rationale behind this decision — the second such decision this month.”
By excluding the Legislative Branch from the decision-making process for foreign military sales, the Biden administration’s decision “undermines transparency and weakens accountability,” added Sen. Chris Van Hollen (D-MD).
The weapons sent to Israel have “been used to devastating effect in Gaza, contributing to the death and injury of countless civilians and the displacement of an estimated 2 million people,” noted Sen. Peter Welch (D-VT).
“The war in Gaza has generated immense controversy and concern in the United States and around the world,” Welch added. “The president should follow the established procedure of submitting his arms sales recommendations to Congress for prior approval.”