AMIDST ISRAEL’S DEVASTATING ASSAULT ON GAZA, New York Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Wisconsin Congressman Mark Pocan, and Michigan Congresswoman Rashida Tlaib are preparing to introduce a resolution that would block the United States’ planned $735 million sale of bombs to Israel, according to an early draft of the legislation obtained by Jewish Currents. The resolution would halt the planned transfer of so-called JDAMs, or Joint Direct Attack Munitions, and of Small Diameter Bombs, both of which are bombs outfitted with special guidance systems to hit their intended targets. Both types of explosive are made by the Chicago-based weapons manufacturer Boeing. Israel has used JDAMs and Small Diameter Bombs in its current attack on Gaza, according to Al Jazeera Arabic. “At a time when so many, including our President, support a ceasefire, we should not be sending ‘direct attack’ weaponry to Prime Minister Netanyahu to prolong this violence. It is long past time to end the US policy of unconditional military arms sales, particularly to governments that have violated human rights,” read an email from Ocasio-Cortez’s office obtained by Jewish Currents that called on her congressional colleagues to support her bill.In addition to Ocasio-Cortez, Pocan, and Tlaib, co-sponsors include Reps. Cori Bush, Andre Carson, Pramila Jayapal, Betty McCollum, Ilhan Omar, and Ayanna Pressley. Organizations backing the bill include IfNotNow, Center for Constitutional Rights, Friends Committee on National Legislation, Jewish Voice for Peace, Churches for Middle East Peace, and Defense for Children International–Palestine.The resolution Ocasio-Cortez will introduce is known as a joint resolution of disapproval (JRD). Once introduced, the Speaker of the House, currently Nancy Pelosi, typically refers this type of bill to the House Foreign Affairs Committee (HFAC), which has jurisdiction over arms sales. In this case, a few HFAC members have already expressed criticism of the proposed sale—including Reps. Joaquin Castro and Ilhan Omar, who have come out in opposition to it. “It would be appalling for the Biden Administration to go through with $735 million in precision-guided weaponry to Netanyahu without any strings attached in the wake of escalating violence and attacks on civilians,” Omar said in a statement. “If this goes through this will be seen as a green light for continued escalation and will undercut any attempts at brokering a ceasefire.” Still, it’s unlikely the resolution will get past the entire 51-member committee, which includes a number of well-known pro-Israel legislators on both the Democratic and Republican sides. The other obstacle to the resolution getting anywhere is that any JRD on arms sales to Israel (as well as to NATO members) can only be considered for 15 days after Congress is notified of a planned sale. Because Congress was informed of this sale on May 5th, the House only has until May 20th to consider it. (However, if a senator introduced a resolution before the end of May 20th, the bill would be required to get a vote in the Senate.) New York Congressman and HFAC Chairman Gregory Meeks said Monday that he planned to delay the arms sale, but then backtracked on Tuesday. “It is my understanding from Chairman Meeks that he’s not going to send a letter, and the reason is the administration has agreed to have some discussions with the members of the Foreign Affairs Committee,” said Rep. Steny Hoyer, the House Democratic Majority Leader and a stalwart defender of Israel, in announcing Meeks’ about-face.

Sorgente: Progressive Legislators to Introduce Resolution Blocking Bomb Sale to Israel

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