WASHINGTON (NEXSTAR) — Congress debated Tuesday just how much U.S. allies should be able to use American-supplied weapons in their wars.
Ahead of an expected vote in the U.S. Senate this week that aims to block a $20 billion weapons sale from the U.S. to Israel, U.S. Capitol Police arrested dozens of protesters Tuesday who support the arms embargo.
Right down the street, a group of senators were making the case for the embargo against Israel.
“It has raged all-out war against the Palestinian people,” said U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.).
“U.S. taxpayer assistance should not come in the form of a blank check,” said U.S. Sen. Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.).
Van Hollen and Sanders support joint resolutions that accuse Israel of violating internationally recognized human rights and blocking U.S. humanitarian aid.
“Under these circumstances, it is illegal for the U.S. government to provide them with more offensive weaponry,” Sanders said.
Incoming Senate Republican Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) opposes their efforts.
“It encourages others to abandon Israel in their time of need,” Thune said.
Senate Republicans also denounced the timing of the Biden administration’s decision that now allows Ukraine to use American missiles inside Russian territory, saying it should have happened months ago.
“The next commander in chief will inherit a world of threats made worse by the Biden administration’s hesitation,” said Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.).
The Pentagon would not comment on the new authorization but did comment on Russia’s response: lowering its threshold for use of its nuclear weapons.
“It’s the same irresponsible rhetoric we’ve seen before,” said Deputy Pentagon Press Secretary Sabrina Singh.
