CHIP SOMODEVILLA via Getty Images via AFP
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WEAPONS – This is a very controversial sale across the Atlantic. Congress was officially informed on May 5 of a $ 735 million arms sale to the Israeli Defense Ministry. According to parliamentary rules, elected officials had until Thursday, May 20 to present a resolution opposing it, and approve it.
This is what we do several elected members of the left wing of the Democratic Party, including the American senator and former candidate for the primary, Bernie Sanders. “At a time when US-made bombs are devastating Gaza, killing women and children, we simply cannot allow another huge arms sale to unfold without even having a debate in Congress,” wrote the independent senator.
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At a moment when U.S.-made bombs are devastating Gaza, and killing women and children, we cannot simply let another huge arms sale go through without even a Congressional debate. https://t.co/nLoDFmLGr1
— Bernie Sanders (@SenSanders) May 20, 2021
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This figure of the American left has the power to put this resolution to a vote even without the agreement of the leader of the Democratic majority, Chuck Schumer. However, it seems very unlikely that she will be able to collect the 51 votes necessary for her passage, since many Democrats do not support this measure.
The day before, elected representatives of the left wing of the Democrats, led by the young parliamentarian Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, had presented a similar resolution in the House of Representatives.
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The United States should not be rubber-stamping weapons sales to the Israeli government as they deploy our resources to target international media outlets, schools, hospitals, humanitarian missions and civilian sites for bombing.
We have a responsibility to protect human rights. https://t.co/OctBNYFpwp
— Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (@AOC) May 19, 2021
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“While many voices, including that of (US) President Biden, support a ceasefire, we should not send ‘direct attack’ weaponry to (Israeli) Prime Minister Netanyahu to prolong the violence” , she had written.
A text that is unlikely to get through
Despite the Democratic majority in the House, this text also has very little chance of passing. The leaders of the parliamentary group have not even set a date for a vote.
A large majority of Jewish Americans call themselves Democrats and the party has traditionally supported Israel, save for a few critical voices. The conflagration between Israel and the Palestinians, however, sparked further criticism of the Hebrew state among moderate Democrats.
Pressed by his left, Joe Biden had toughened his tone Wednesday, May 19 with Benjamin Netanyahu, calling for a de-escalation “today” with a view to a ceasefire.
The Israeli security cabinet is meeting Thursday evening to discuss a possible ceasefire after eleven days of armed clashes between Israel and Hamas, the ruling Palestinian movement in the Gaza Strip.
This meeting, which will be attended by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and the country’s main security officials, comes as intense diplomatic negotiations take place to end hostilities between Hamas and Israel which have left more than 230 dead since May 10, including a majority of Palestinians.
Also on Le HuffPost: Israel’s ‘iron dome’ intercepts hundreds of Hamas rockets
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