King Releases Statement Following Votes to Restrict Sale of Offensive Weapons Systems to Israel

WASHINGTON, D.C.-Today, U.S. Senator Angus King (I-ME) released the following statement following votes on three resolutions to restrict the sale of certain weapons systems to Israel:

"It is easy to disagree with one's adversaries, but difficult to disagree with a friend and ally. Today, I voted my conscience on three resolutions that seek to restrict the sale of certain American-made offensive weapons systems to Israel. Over the course of the last several months, I have grown increasingly disheartened by the manner in which Prime Minister Netanyahu and his security cabinet have decided to conduct this war. While this military campaign began as a fully justified defensive response to the horrific October 7^th attack which left over 1,200 innocent civilians brutally murdered and 251 taken hostage, including Americans, the war took a dark turn when it resulted in far more casualties among innocent Palestinians - including tens of thousands of women and children-than among Hamas. There is no question that Hamas is partially responsible for this tragedy by hiding military assets in civilian areas, but the greater responsibility rests with the Netanyahu Government which has chosen the destructive course we have seen unfold. Access to food is scarce. Drinking water has dried up. Disease is spreading. And yet, the Prime Minister and his security cabinet continue to aggressively fight this war despite already achieving several of its the primary objectives to eliminate the leader of Hamas and severely degrade their military capacity.

"In addition to the unacceptable level of civilian casualties incurred by the manner in which the Netanyahu Government has chosen to conduct the war, it is also complicit in the settler violence in the West Bank which is trending toward another front in the conflict. In a larger sense, beyond the disproportionate destructiveness of the war itself, the path which the Israeli Government has chosen is doing profound damage to Israel's place in the world, including here in the United States, and my votes today are an effort to move the Netanyahu Government toward a course which will begin the restoration of Israel's standing among the community of nations.

"I believe the truest test of friendship is the willingness to tell your friends hard truths, truths which they may not want to hear. It is in that spirit that I cast my votes today. The goal is to work towards a more prosperous, safer, and peaceful future for both Israelis and Palestinians. I am optimistic about this future and believe that this vote brings us a step closer to achieving it."

A member of the Senate Armed Services Committee and the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence, Senator King is recognized as an authoritative voice on national security and foreign policy issues. He has continuously supported Israel's right to defend itself from the October 7^th terrorist attack in which 46 Americans were brutally murdered along with more than 1,200 civilians of other nationalities. Additionally, more than 251 hostages were taken captive, including 6 Americans who still remain hostage in Gaza.

Senator King has also stressed the need for Israel to reduce civilian casualties in Gaza its effort to defeat Hamas. In a November 2023 letter, King and his colleagues pressed for answers on how assistance would advance efforts to engage with Israel, Egypt, and the broader international community to address the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Gaza.

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