The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), the nation’s largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization, today called the Senate’s failure to approve Senator Bernie Sanders’ resolution requiring an assessment of Israeli wartime conduct with U.S. weapons a “cowardly dereliction of duty.”
Senator Sanders introduced the 502B(c) Resolution calling on the State Department to report on any Israeli military human rights violations in Gaza. Additionally, the resolution sought a certification regarding Israeli security forces’ compliance with human rights standards, a summary of arms supplied to Israel since October 7, and an assessment of Israel’s adherence to international humanitarian law in Gaza. The Senate voted 72-11 to table the resolution.
Ahead of the failed vote, Senator Sanders press the need for such reporting requirements declaring: “Much of what is happening, much of the bombardment…is happening right now with US arms and equipment” adding “Whether we like it or not, the United States is complicit.”
SEE: Senate soundly rejects Bernie Sanders’ push to scrutinize Israel aid (msn.com)
SEE: Bernie Sanders speaks on Senate floor about US complicity in Gaza war (Middle East Eye)
SEE: Biden must enforce US law regarding Israel’s military aid (The Hill)
Last month, the Biden Administration affirmed that the U.S. government is not formally assessing in any way if Israel is violating human rights in Gaza, including committing war crimes with U.S. supplied weapons.
In a statement, CAIR Deputy Executive Director Edward Ahmed Mitchell said:
“We applaud Senator Sanders and the ten other senators who exercised their duty to engage in congressional oversight. The decision of 72 other senators to reject this resolution, which would merely assess whether the Israeli government has used American weapons to violate human rights, is a cowardly dereliction of duty.
“Congress has a moral and legal obligation to, at the very least, assess whether a foreign government is using American taxpayer dollars to commit war crimes. The only reason 72 senators would refuse to ask this basic question about Israel’s conduct in Gaza is because those senators already know the answer and want to avoid the consequences.
“The Biden administration and Congress must stop ignoring the reality: the Netanyahu government is using U.S. arms and American taxpayer dollars to kill civilians with impunity. It is long past time for our government to uphold international law, demand an end to this violence, and hold the right-wing Netanyahu government accountable for its crimes against humanity.”
He noted that yesterday, CAIR encouraged Americans Muslims and others concerned about the ongoing Gaza genocide to contact their U.S. senators and encourage them to support the resolution.
SEE: Community Action Alert: Urge Your Senators to Support Bernie Sanders’ Israel Accountability Resolution TODAY
CAIR’s 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.
END
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