US Senator Bernie Sanders said on Monday that he will “strongly oppose” a provision in the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) that would integrate American and Israeli defence industries at an unprecedented level.
“The United States should not be funding the Israeli military,” Sanders said during remarks at the National Press Club in Washington, D.C.
He also warned against Section 224 of the annual defence bill, which requires the US Secretary of Defense to designate an “executive agent” responsible for synchronising cooperative efforts between the US and Israel, including “bilateral defence technology research, development, testing, evaluation, integration and industrial cooperation.”
“That is a provision which I will very strongly oppose,” he said.
Sanders’ remarks were interrupted early by at least two pro-Palestinian protesters before he addressed Israel’s war in Gaza.
One protester shouted: “It’s not just the Netanyahu government — it is the Israeli government that continues to commit genocide and apartheid. How dare you continue to support Israel when they keep killing Palestinians?”
