Democrats back funding for "Israel" but with no 'blank checks'

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Agencies
29 Nov 2023 22:17
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Democrats say that US aid to "Israel" must align with its interests and values, adhering to US law, international law, and the principles of the law of armed conflict.

Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., center, confers with Armed Services Committee Chair Jack Reed, D-R.I., left, while joined at right by Sen. Chris Coons, D-Del., outside the Senate chamber, at the Capitol in Washington, Tuesday, Nov. 28, 2023 (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)

On Wednesday, 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 was released by Democratic lawmakers Chris Van Hollen, Brian Schatz, and Jack Reed following a meeting on Tuesday with White House National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan.

It 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.

The statement emphasizes that the US should assist "Israel" in identifying a more effective path to achieve its military and security objectives.

The Biden administration's $106 billion supplemental aid request, encompassing assistance for both "Israel" and Ukraine, is under consideration by the US Congress.

Despite the House of Representatives passing a standalone bill for aid to "Israel", the Senate and the White House have rejected the legislation.

With only three weeks left on the legislative calendar to craft a bipartisan deal, many question Congress members' capacity to pass a foreign aid package by the year's end.

Both houses are currently entangled in disputes over matters such as "Israel's" war on Gaza, identifying funding sources for the requested aid, and addressing immigration reform. A clear path to an agreement has yet to emerge.