politics
Democratic Senators Urge Block on Defense Bill Over Israel Cooperation
Six Democratic senators led by Chris Van Hollen sent a letter calling on colleagues to block the National Defense Authorization Act until the Senate debates new measures to deepen U.S.-Israel military and intelligence ties. The letter criticizes any steps that would strengthen relations with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's government.
Jul 9, 4:46 PM·1m read1 source
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-Israel military and intelligence cooperation, Al-Monitor reported. The letter, dated around July 9 and seen by Reuters, was led by Sen. Chris Van Hollen of Maryland and signed by Sens. Jeff Merkley of Oregon, Ed Markey and Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts, Peter Welch of Vermont, and independent Sen.
Bernie Sanders of Vermont. It states that Senate Democrats should not provide votes that compel President Donald Trump to deepen the U.S. relationship with Netanyahu's government. Congress is drafting the NDAA, which authorizes much of Trump's proposed $1.5 trillion military budget.
-Israel defense cooperation, and an early draft of the fiscal 2027 Intelligence Authorization Act, typically attached to the NDAA, would tighten intelligence ties with Israel. The effort comes as support for Israel has grown more divisive among Democrats ahead of November's midterm elections.
A Reuters/Ipsos poll last month found that one in four Americans believed the war with Iran was worth its costs, while Israel's favorability rating among Democrats fell from 59 percent in 2018 to 22 percent in May.
Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was killed on February 28 in Israeli and U.S. airstrikes, and a funeral procession for him was held in Tehran on July 6.
