Dem. Senator lambasts Biden for uncapped transfer of arms to 'Israel'
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Virginia Senator Tim Kaine has raised questions concerning the Biden administration's uncapped transfer of US weaponry to "Israel".
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Sen. Tim Kaine, D-Va.. speaks during the Senate Armed Services Subcommittee on Personnel hearing to examine the status of Department of Defense recruiting efforts and plans for fiscal year 2024, on Capitol Hill in Washington Wednesday, Dec. 6, 2023. (AP)
Virginia Senator Tim Kaine has raised questions concerning the Biden administration's uncapped transfer of US weaponry to "Israel", along with growing voices of condemnation from within the Democratic Party.
On Saturday, the Democratic Senator said the transfer of munition must be overseen by Congress. “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. Unnecessarily bypassing Congress means keeping the American people in the dark.”
He added that the government needs to know the grounds for this decision, which has been made for the second time in December alone.
On Friday, the US Defense Security Cooperation Agency said Antony Blinken, US Secretary of State, had approved a sale of 147.5 million dollars worth of 155mm projectiles and related equipment, a major spike from what had been approved just earlier in terms of heavy munition and artillery.
According to the US DSCA, Blinken “determined and provided detailed justification to Congress that an emergency exists that requires the immediate sale to the Government of Israel” and that the sale was “in the national security interests of the United States” and thereby exempt from congressional review under arms-export control laws.
Moreover, the statement reiterated the US' indefinite and unwavering loyalty to "Israel", saying it is within its interests to secure the occupation's "self-defense capability" that seems to be exercised against unarmed civilians and children.
The Senator, in his statement, added that the rising transfer of munition to "Israel", including a 14.3 billion dollar package approved by Joe Biden, falls out with US domestic and global public opinion.
Read more: 'Israel' would have fought with sticks, stones without US support
Democrats back funding for 'Israel' but with no 'blank checks'
The gist of Kaine's stance lies in a backhanded support for "Israel" but at a slower pace in terms of monetary and material transfers.
In November, a cohort of Democratic US Senators declared their ongoing support for increased US funding of "Israel", emphasizing that such assistance would not be granted as a "blank check."
"We continue to support additional assistance to Israel in the aftermath of the brutal Hamas attacks - but we are all in agreement that this assistance must be consistent with our interests and values… US assistance has never come in the form of a blank check - regardless of the recipient,” the lawmakers said in a statement.
Sens. Van Hollen, Schatz and Reed say they and over a dozen other senators met w/ National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan yesterday and “all in agreement that this assistance [to Israel] must … be used in a manner that adheres to international humanitarian law.” pic.twitter.com/dAFTAtbhDY
— Andrew Solender (@AndrewSolender) November 29, 2023
The statement underscores that US aid to "Israel" must align with what it described as "its interests and values," adhering to US law, international law, and the principles of the law of armed conflict, and emphasizes that the US should assist "Israel" in identifying a more effective path to achieve its military and security objectives.
