The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), the nation’s largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization, today called on all Americans who stand against genocide to contact their U.S. Senators and urge them to vote YES on Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders’ Joint Resolutions of Disapproval to block more than $20 billion in illegal U.S. weapons sales to Israel.
These weapons have already claimed the lives of over 41,000 Palestinians and injured nearly 95,000 more—mostly women, children, and the elderly, with an additional 630 Lebanese civilians slaughtered in the past week.
The U.S. is bound by the Foreign Assistance Act and the Arms Export Control Act (AECA) to ensure that arms transfers align with human rights, advance U.S. foreign policy interests, and avoid enabling human rights violations. These proposed sales fail on all fronts. Even more troubling, Israel is in direct violation of Section 620I of the Foreign Assistance Act, which prohibits U.S. aid to any country blocking U.S. humanitarian assistance. Israel’s ongoing blockade of aid in Gaza has left thousands of children facing malnutrition and starvation.
SEE:Sanders and Colleagues Move to Block Arms Sales to Israel
SEE: Joint Resolutions of Disapproval under the Arms Export Control Act and Proposed Arms Sales to Israel
“No American can remain silent as U.S. weapons continue to fuel a conflict that has caused untold suffering for innocent civilians,” said Robert McCaw, CAIR Government Affairs Department Director. “By approving these arms sales, the U.S. is complicit in the ongoing human rights violations and illegal military campaigns that have devastated Gaza. The American people must act now to stop this.”
CAIR notes that Israel today announced it has secured a $8.7 billion military aid package from the United States, aimed at bolstering its ongoing military operations and maintaining a qualitative military edge in the region. The package includes $3.5 billion for immediate wartime procurement and $5.2 billion for advanced air defense systems, such as the Iron Dome and David’s Sling. This aid follows negotiations at the Pentagon between Israeli and U.S. defense officials. It highlights the deep strategic partnership between the two nations and the U.S.’s ongoing complicity in arming and supporting Israel as it commits war crimes and genocide in Gaza.
Again, CAIR urges all Americans to contact their Senators and demand they vote YES on Sen. Sanders’ resolution when it comes to the Senate floor for consideration in November.
The Council on American-Islamic Relations’ mission is to protect civil rights, enhance understanding of Islam, promote justice, and empower American Muslims.
La misión de CAIR es proteger las libertades civiles, mejorar la comprensión del Islam, promover la justicia, y empoderar a los musulmanes en los Estados Unidos.
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CONTACT: CAIR National Deputy Director Edward Ahmed Mitchell, 404-285-9530, e-Mitchell@cair.com; CAIR Government Affairs Director Robert McCaw, 202-742-6448, rmccaw@cair.com; CAIR National Communications Director Ibrahim Hooper, 202-744-7726, ihooper@cair.com; CAIR National Communications Manager Ismail Allison, 202-770-6280, iallison@cair.com