Tell Your Senators: Don’t Pass Netanyahu’s Dangerous Defense Framework

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Senators Letter Authors

I urge you to join Senators Van Hollen, Markey, Merkley, Sanders, Warren, and Welch in opposing advancement of the National Defense Authorization Act until the Senate has the opportunity to at least debate dangerous provisions mandating expanded US-Israel military and intelligence entanglement.
This year's NDAA includes a provision establishing the "US-Israel Defense Technology Cooperation Initiative." This provision would embed US military assistance to Israel in thousands of separate defense contracts and co-production agreements instead of keeping it in a transparent, congressionally-appropriated aid package. Once military assistance is scattered across countless contracts, Congress loses the ability to condition it as a means of holding Israel accountable. Moreover, this change would lock in permanent military entanglement with Israel outside of any meaningful congressional oversight.
This provision was quietly added to the bill without the debate it deserves. Congress should not lock in this level of military and intelligence entanglement with Israel without a meaningful opportunity for members to examine, debate, and vote on it. I urge you to support blocking advancement of the NDAA until that debate happens.

Dear [Your Elected Official],

I urge you to join Senators Van Hollen, Markey, Merkley, Sanders, Warren, and Welch in opposing advancement of the National Defense Authorization Act until the Senate has the opportunity to at least debate dangerous provisions mandating expanded US-Israel military and intelligence entanglement.

This year's NDAA includes a provision establishing the "US-Israel Defense Technology Cooperation Initiative." This provision would embed US military assistance to Israel in thousands of separate defense contracts and co-production agreements instead of keeping it in a transparent, congressionally-appropriated aid package. Once military assistance is scattered across countless contracts, Congress loses the ability to condition it as a means of holding Israel accountable. Moreover, this change would lock in permanent military entanglement with Israel outside of any meaningful congressional oversight.

This provision was quietly added to the bill without the debate it deserves. Congress should not lock in this level of military and intelligence entanglement with Israel without a meaningful opportunity for members to examine, debate, and vote on it. I urge you to support blocking advancement of the NDAA until that debate happens.

Sincerely,

[Your Name]

[Your City & State]

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Summary

The Senate will soon consider the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). Tucked into this year's bill is a provision that would mandate a sweeping new program of military and intelligence ties between the US and Israel. The provision is part of a new framework to replace the existing US aid program with new funding hidden within the Pentagon budget. Instead of transparent, congressionally appropriated aid that Congress can condition to press Israel to abandon destructive policies, money would be embedded in thousands of separate defense contracts and co-production agreements between the US military and Israeli weapons manufacturers.  Once that happens, Congress loses all leverage. The money becomes invisible, and it becomes nearly impossible for Congress to undo it. It effectively means that US aid cannot be used to hold the Israeli government accountable. Six senators: Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Ed Markey (D-MA), Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Bernie Sanders (I-VT), Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), and Peter Welch (D-VT), are pushing to block the NDAA from advancing until the Senate can debate and vote on stripping this provision out. This isn't a decision that should be made quietly, folded into a massive defense package with no debate. Congress should not lock in permanent military and intelligence entanglement with Israel without scrutiny. Contact your Senators. Tell them to join the effort to block the advancement of the NDAA until the Senate at least has a real opportunity to debate this provision.

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