Rights groups urge US lawmakers to drop provision to deepen defense ties with Israel
The groups say deeper integration would be exceptionally dangerous as the House-passed measure awaits Senate action and public support for Israel has fallen.
- On Thursday, 56 civil rights and advocacy groups urged Congress to remove Section 219 from the 2027 National Defense Authorization Act , citing concerns over deepening U.S.-Israeli military technology integration.
- The provision seeks to establish frameworks for joint ventures, licensing agreements, and U.S.-based co-production partnerships with the Israeli industry to accelerate shared military technology development.
- In their letter, the groups labeled the deeper integration "exceptionally dangerous," arguing it risks compromising "sensitive technology" and provides the Government of Israel with the ability to interfere in U.S. defense decisions.
- Democratic Senator Chris Van Hollen warned that deepening cooperation with the Netanyahu government is not in U.S. national interests, while recent polling shows 66% of Democrats believe the U.S. is too supportive of Israel.
- Having passed the House in July, the bill awaits Senate action; members of both chambers must negotiate a compromise version before the final NDAA heads to the White House.
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9 Articles
Lawmakers cautioned deepening US defence ties with Israel would be 'exceptionally dangerous'
About 56 rights and advocacy groups tell Congress members to dump defence-bill provision locking US deeper into Israeli military tech — citing Israel's violations of international law in Palestine.
Civil rights groups campaign against deepening US-Israel defense cooperation
A defense bill provision passed by the House would expand US-Israel military cooperation by accelerating joint technology development and partnerships between the two countries’ defense sectors.
Rights groups press lawmakers to scrap provision to merge US and Israeli militaries
Rights groups press lawmakers to scrap provision to merge US and Israeli militaries Submitted by MEE staff on Thu, 09/03/2026 - 18:07 The controversial defence bill measure would permanently integrate US and Israeli military tech advancements Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu meets with US President Donald Trump in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington on 28 July 2026 (Israeli Government Press Office/AFP) Off On Thursday, 5…
Rights groups urge US lawmakers to drop provision to deepen defense ties with Israel
Dozens of civil rights and advocacy groups are urging Congress to scrap a defense bill provision that would deepen U.S.-Israeli military technology ties, according to a letter seen by Reuters, at a time of growing U.S. skepticism toward the longtime ally.
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