In the interview with Democratic Senator Chris Van Hollen from Maryland, the conversation focused on the need for the Biden administration to hold Israel accountable for its actions and to enforce consequences for not meeting certain requests. Sen. Van Hollen expressed concern about the lack of clarity on what consequences the White House plans to impose on Israel if they do not follow the President’s requests. He emphasized the importance of enforcing the President’s own national security memorandum, which states that if a recipient of US military assistance is restricting the delivery of humanitarian aid, weapons should not be sent.
Sen. Van Hollen also discussed the challenges of separating defensive and offensive weapons when it comes to military aid to Israel. He clarified that defensive weapons like air defense systems are necessary for Israel’s security, but offensive weapons such as airplanes, bombs, and artillery are not in compliance with international law. He emphasized the need for transparency and accountability, especially regarding whether Israel is abiding by international law and using best practices to limit civilian harm.
The discussion also touched on an upcoming report due on May 8th that will assess whether Israel and other countries are complying with the directives set forth by the Biden administration. Sen. Van Hollen stressed the importance of making this report public to ensure transparency and accountability. He reiterated the importance of ensuring that military aid to Israel is contingent upon their compliance with international standards and the President’s requests.
In response to questions about approving future weapons systems for Israel, Sen. Van Hollen emphasized that such approvals should be conditional on Israel meeting the terms of NSM-20 and the President’s requests regarding humanitarian assistance. He stressed the need for a two-way partnership where Israel complies with the directives in order to receive military aid. He underscored the importance of using leverage effectively to ensure compliance.
Switching gears to a local issue, the interview briefly touched on the disaster in Baltimore and the need for federal funding to help rebuild the bridge. Sen. Van Hollen explained that President Biden has already taken steps to assist Maryland through the Emergency Relief Program, which will provide 90% of the funds for rebuilding the bridge. He, along with other Maryland lawmakers, will introduce legislation to secure the remaining 10% and ensure that any funds recovered through liability lawsuits are returned to the federal taxpayer. The interview concluded with a thank you to Sen. Van Hollen for his insights.
