WASHINGTON: US lawmakers have expressed concern over the Biden administration’s decision to transfer weapons to Israel without congressional oversight, urging Washington to review its policies towards the Middle East.

Senator Tim Kaine, a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee and the Senate Armed Services Committee, said in a statement on Saturday that Congress should not be prevented from playing its supervisory role in matters of war and peace, and demanded full visibility into weapons transfers to any nation.

“Just as Congress has a crucial role to play in all matters of war and peace, Congress should have full visibility over the weapons we transfer to any other nation,” he said. “Unnecessarily bypassing Congress means keeping the American people in the dark. We need a public explanation of the rationale behind this decision — the second such decision this month.”

Senator Chris Van Hollen, a Maryland Democrat, echoed Kaine’s sentiments, criticising the administration’s repeated bypassing of congressional review in arms sales. Van Hollen argued that this decision undermines transparency and weakens accountability, especially given the already quick time frame for congressional review.

Kaine is a vocal advocate for a deliberate congressional process in decisions related to war and peace. Earlier this year, the Senate voted to pass Kaine’s bipartisan legislation to repeal the 1991 and 2002 Authorisations of Military Force, formally ending the Gulf and Iraq wars.

The senators’ critique reflects broader concerns within the Senate Democratic caucus regarding the Biden administration’s approach to arms sales without adequate congressional scrutiny.

As debates continue, these developments shed light on the ongoing tension between the executive and legislative branches over the ongoing war in the Middle East.

Last week, a group of 12 US Senators, led by Chairman of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence Mark R. Warner, sent a letter to President Joe Biden urging him to prioritise the resumption of a longstanding agreement between Israel and the Palestinian Authority.

The agreement requires Israel to release the funds that help fund critical civil administration and security needs. The agreement has been disrupted by Israel’s decision to withhold a significant portion of tax revenues meant for the Palestinian Authority.

Senators expressed deep concern about the economic deterioration in the West Bank and the rise in violent acts by extremist Israeli settlers. The letter highlighted the impact of various factors, including the revocation of work permits for thousands of Palestinians, leading to the closure of numerous businesses and an 80 per cent reduction in the Palestinian Authority’s (PA) revenues since Oct 7.

The senators underscored the importance of Israel taking immediate steps to address the growing instability in the West Bank. They emphasised the need for ensuring that the Palestinian Security Forces can effectively protect innocent Palestinian civilians and prevent further destabilisation, which could potentially escalate the conflict.

A significant source of the PA’s revenue derives from Palestinian import tax revenues, which according to a longstanding agreement, the Israeli government collects on their behalf, and then transfers to the PA. “We are concerned that the Israeli government’s decision to withhold a significant portion of these revenues is dramatically exacerbating the economic volatility in the West Bank,” the senators wrote.

The letter also highlighted the adverse effects on the well-being of Palestinians, stating, “Absent these funds, salaries for the more than 30,000 members of the Palestinian Security Forces cannot be paid in full.”

The senators warned that unpaid employees could be exploited by militant groups attempting to step in and financially coerce their services. “This represents a significant security threat, risking the opening of a new front to this conflict,” the senators wrote.

The senators stressed that a commitment by Israel to immediately transfer the full allotment of Palestinian Authority revenues is vital to preventing a significant rise in instability and would represent a crucial step towards deescalating tensions in the West Bank.

Published in Dawn, january 1st, 2024