Wednesday, we are expecting to see Joint Resolutions of Disapproval (JRDs) in the US Senate blocking offensive arms sales to Israel to be brought to the floor by Senator Sanders – and supported by Senators Merkley, Schatz, Welch, Van Hollen, Warren, and Kaine for a vote. NVI doesn't typically call on our supporters to call Congress, however, lobbying is a nonviolent action and stopping the weapons is a great way to nonviolently stop the war. Please read this email and call. And get at least one friend to also call. And call them a second time tomorrow.

This is a HUGE DEAL. Never before has the Senate voted to withhold weapons to Israel.

The bill numbers are:

S.J.Res.111 (120mm tank munitions),

S.J.Res.112 (8-ton cargo trucks),

S.J.Res.113 (120mm mortar cartridge),

S.J.Res.114 (F–15IA aircraft),

S.J.Res.115 (Joint Direct Attack Munitions - JDAMs),

S.J.Res.116 (Joint Direct Attack Munition receivers)

While we are not certain yet which of these will receive a vote, Nonviolence International strongly urges your two senators to vote YES on any of these resolutions that come up for a vote, and to issue a public statement signaling their support for this legislation ahead of the vote. Call them now! +1 (202) 224-3121

These JRDs are specifically targeted to block certain offensive weapons which have been  thoroughly documented to have been repeatedly used by the Israeli military in attacks that have killed civilians in densely populated areas. These arms sales do not affect Israeli defensive weapons systems such as Iron Dome or David’s Sling. 

We join over 110 diverse organizations in support of these JRDs. Yesterday, the President of J Street, Jeremy Ben-Ami, issued a strong statement in support of the JRDs.

ICYMI: Last week, Israel missed a 30-day deadline imposed by the Biden administration to meet benchmarks to increase the flow of humanitarian aid or face consequences. Despite this, the Biden admin has indicated there will be no consequences for Israel, and arms sales will not be limited.

TODAY, Senator Van Hollen sent a letter to colleagues urging them to support the JRDs, citing Israel’s arbitrary restrictions of humanitarian aid, misuse of American weapons, and disregard for U.S. priorities. 

You may refer to Friends Committee on National Legislation’s fact sheet on the JRDs, which includes counterpoints to common misconceptions. Senator Sanders’ fact sheet can be found here.

For a more comprehensive dive into the JRDs, please refer to this congressional briefing hosted by Demand Progress, Amnesty International, FCNL, CIVIC and a New Policy. For your convenience, the recording is time-stamped based on topic (refer to video description box).

Toplines

• These weapons have been documented to have harmed civilians: Independent human rights and conflict monitors have thoroughly documented the Israeli military’s use of these weapons from the United States in attacks that have killed Palestinian civilians in Gaza. President Biden has described Israeli government attacks as “indiscriminate,” which is a violation of the laws of war. Humanitarian groups have stressed that Israeli forces continue to block the delivery of humanitarian aid as hundreds of thousands of people in Gaza are on the precipice of starvation and suffering from the spread of deadly diseases, including polio.
• These arms sales are contrary to U.S. law and policy: U.S. law and the Biden administration’s own arms transfer policy prohibit arms transfers to any country that engages in a consistent pattern of gross violations of human rights and restricts the delivery of U.S. humanitarian assistance. According to the Biden administration’s own report, continued arms transfers to the Israeli government do not comply with these standards. 
• Blocking arms sales gives leverage for a ceasefire: There is no military solution to this crisis in Israel-Palestine and across the Middle East. As Rachel Goldberg-Polin, the mother of American-Israeli hostage Hersh Goldberg-Polin said, “[S]even hostages have come out through military operation. Over 100 have come out through a negotiated settlement. It’s pretty clear that’s what we need to do.” By stopping these arms sales, Congress would send a clear message that only diplomacy – not more weapons – is the way to bring all captives home and achieve a peaceful settlement to the violence in Gaza, the West Bank, Lebanon, and across the region.

Thank you and Call your Senators NOW! (202) 224-3121
Peace,

Mubarak Awad

Founder and Board Member

P.S. Remember to register for the webinar on Thursday, November 21st at 10am ET, on Nonviolent Civilian Protection in Western Sahara and Palestine. Are you interested to go there and/or help? 

Nonviolence International
https://www.nonviolenceinternational.net/

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