US Congressional letter urges investigation into US weapons used in Israel
US Congressional letter urges investigation into US weapons used in Israel
Progressive leaders in Congress are circulating a letter over the use of US weapons in Israel, urging an investigation to see if they are being used to commit human rights violations, which would be against US law.
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US Congress [Getty]
Political leaders from both chambers of Congress are circulating a letter urging the US government to investigate if Israel is using US weapons to commit human rights violations against Palestinians, in violation of US law.
The effort is being led by Representative Jamaal Bowman and Senator Bernie Sanders, who are gathering signatures for a letter to be sent to US President Joe Biden and Secretary of State Antony Blinken, according to a report by Jewish Currents.
On the House side, the letter has been signed by eight additional Congress members: Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Summer Lee, Rashida Tlaib, Cori Bush, Ilhan Omar, Betty McCollum, André Carson, and Ayanna Pressley.
"At this inflexion point, we ask your administration to undertake a shift in US policy in recognition of the worsening violence, further annexation of land, and denial of Palestinian rights," the letter, obtained by Jewish Currents, reads.
The letter goes on to condemn the escalating violence against civilians under Israel's current right-wing government and suggests that the US administration has not been effective in reining in some of its more extreme policies.
It concludes by calling on the Biden administration to ensure US tax dollars are not used to support projects in illegal settlements, determine if US defence articles have been used in violation of US laws, and ensure that assistance to Israel does not support human rights violations.
More than 20 civil society groups are supporting the letter, including J Street, JVP Action, IfNotNow and Justice Democrats.
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