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(JTA) — Rep. Gregory Meeks, the main Democrat on the Home International Affairs Committee, has stated he wouldn’t approve a U.S. sale of F-15 fighter jets to Israel with out “assurances” on what the jets can be used for.
“I’m ready for assurances,” Meeks, who represents a district in New York Metropolis, told CNN on Tuesday. “It’s sufficient of the indiscriminate bombing. I don’t need the sorts of weapons that Israel must be utilized to have extra demise.”
Meeks is one in all 4 lawmakers on Capitol Hill with the ability to carry up weapons gross sales. He has beforehand supported Israel’s battle towards Hamas and referred to as within the CNN interview for Hamas to instantly launch hostages.
His assertion is the newest sign that help for Israel’s conflict effort is eroding amongst Democratic lawmakers, significantly following an Israeli strike that killed seven support staff earlier this month and even because the Biden administration has signaled its help as Israel anticipates Iranian retaliation for its killing of a senior Iranian commander this month.
Days earlier than Meeks’ interview, greater than 50 Democratic members of Congress — together with main progressives and former Home Speaker Nancy Pelosi — signed a letter calling on President Joe Biden to halt weapons transfers to Israel. Meeks was not one of many signatories.
“If this strike is discovered to have violated U.S. or worldwide legislation, we urge you to proceed withholding these transfers till these accountable are held accountable,” the letter says. “We additionally urge you to withhold these transfers if Israel fails to sufficiently mitigate hurt to harmless civilians in Gaza, together with support staff, and if it fails to facilitate – or arbitrarily denies or restricts – the transport and supply of humanitarian support into Gaza.”
In one other signal of tensions, final week Sen. Elizabeth Warren, commenting on Israel’s trial on the cost of genocide on the Worldwide Courtroom of Justice, said, “I consider they may discover it’s genocide, they usually have ample proof to take action.” Israel vehemently rejects that accusation and says it takes measures to guard civilian life.
Following the strike on the help convoy, the Biden administration expressed its outrage and referred to as on Israel to do extra to facilitate the supply of humanitarian support into Gaza. Israel has since elevated the movement of support, stemming Biden’s criticism. In latest days, his administration has rebuffed criticism of Israel and conveyed its help forward of a attainable Iranian assault. Protection Secretary Lloyd Austin stated on Tuesday that the USA has not seen “any proof” that Israel is committing genocide.
“As I instructed Prime Minister Netanyahu, our dedication to Israel’s safety towards these threats from Iran and its proxies is ironclad,” Biden stated at a press convention on Wednesday. “Let me say it once more, ironclad. We’re going to do all we are able to to guard Israel’s safety.”
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