Chair Cardin Strongly Opposes Blocking Weapons Sales to Israel

WASHINGTON - Today, U.S. Senator Ben Cardin (D-Md.), Chair of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, released a statement ahead of Senate votes on the Joint Resolutions of Disapproval (JRD) to block U.S. weapons sales to Israel.

"The horrific October 7th terrorist attacks and the ongoing conflict against Hamas have claimed far too many innocent lives. Israel continues to face active and deadly threats from Iran, Hamas, Hezbollah, the Houthis, and others - adversaries who also threaten U.S. interests. Meanwhile, over the past year, Democrats have used our influence to advocate for the protection of civilians in Gaza, ensure access for critical humanitarian aid, secure the immediate release of hostages, and seek an end to this conflict.

"Our support for Israel does not diminish our commitment to humanitarian assistance for innocent Palestinians or our shared pursuit of peace. It does not deter the United States from continuing to push for a two-state outcome that results in Israelis and Palestinians living side by side in equal measures of mutual recognition, security, self-determination, prosperity, and dignity.

"While addressing the humanitarian crisis in Gaza and advocating for peace, we also must uphold our country's longstanding bipartisan commitment to Israel. We must make it unequivocally clear that the United States stands with Israel against these shared threats and ensure it has the resources to defend itself."

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