On September 25th, Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) introduced Joint Resolutions of Disapproval to block the sale of more than $20 billion in offensive U.S. weaponry to Israel. He was joined by Senators Welch and Merkley.  

In introducing the resolutions, Sen. Sanders observed, "....Prime Minister Netanyahu’s extremist government has not simply waged war against Hamas. It has waged all-out war against the Palestinian people....", bombing hospitals and schools, starving children, destroying infrastructure and housing stock, and has made life unlivable in Gaza. "The United States must end its complicity in this atrocity. Sending more weapons is not only immoral, it is also illegal under the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 and the Arms Export Control Act."  

These laws bar the sale or transfer of US arms to any country that violates human rights or international law. Sanders added, "There is a mountain of documentary evidence demonstrating that these weapons are being used in violation of U.S. and international law. It is also clear that Israel has blocked U.S. humanitarian aid, making it ineligible for U.S. security assistance under Section 620I of the Foreign Assistance Act."

Sanders also pointed to conduct by Netanyahu that undermines US efforts to reach a ceasefire in Gaza to secure the release of the hostages and allow more aid to flow into Gaza. "It is clear that Netanyahu is prolonging the war to cling to power and avoid prosecution for corruption. Meanwhile, his government has also overseen record illegal settlement expansion in the West Bank and unleashed a wave of violence there that has killed nearly 700 Palestinians, including 150 children, and several Americans over the last 11 months.... Instead, at every stage of this conflict, when presented with the choice between military escalation and diplomacy, Netanyahu has chosen to escalate to preserve his coalition at home."

Bernie Sanders needs our help to build Senate support for these resolutions. Will you take a moment to send a message to your state's senators urging them to support this important initiative? We've drafted a sample message, which you can use as is, or modify as you prefer. It will only take a minute.