Kaine Statement on Effort to Block Select Weapons Transfers to Israel

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, U.S. Senator Tim Kaine (D-VA), a member of the Senate Armed Services and Foreign Relations Committees, released the following statement regarding resolutions filed to block five out of over 100 separate weapons transfers to Israel by the Biden Administration since October 7, 2023:

“Since February, I have called on the Biden Administration to support Israel through the provision of defensive weapons, such as those used to defeat the Iranian drone and missile attacks in April. But I have also urged a pause in transfer of any offensive weapons because of the serious harm they will likely cause to Palestinian civilians in Gaza and in the West Bank. I also believe that the U.S. transferring more offensive weapons into the region right now will be an accelerant to ongoing hostilities, jeopardizing the prospects for a ceasefire and hostage release deal in Gaza—the surest path to de-escalation and to a sustainable peace that would provide for the safety and security of the Israeli, Palestinian and Lebanese people, and for U.S. servicemembers deployed to the Middle East. I am closely reviewing the resolutions and, consistent with my longstanding position, I will vote to oppose transfers of weapons that are primarily offensive in nature.”

Kaine has repeatedly reiterated his support for Israel’s right to defend itself against Hamas following Hamas’ horrific October 7 terrorist attacks and the need to address the humanitarian crisis in Gaza. He’s taken a series of steps to prioritize the release of hostages taken by Hamas, including directly engaging the Qatari and Egyptian governments, protect civilians in Gaza and the West Bank, and counter threats to Israel from Hamas and Iran.

Consistent with Kaine’s years-long efforts to ensure that Congress plays an assertive and deliberate role in matters of war and peace, Kaine raised concerns over the Biden Administration’s decision last December to transfer weapons to Israel without congressional oversight. He also worked alongside his colleagues and the Biden Administration to establish a National Security Memorandum to require that U.S. security assistance is used in line with international law and to create robust reporting requirements on the use of U.S. weapons in conflict. In February, following reports of a pending major weapons transfer from the U.S. to Israel, Kaine urged the Administration to ensure that the transfer is comprised primarily of defensive weapons critical to the security of the Israeli people, such as restocking the Iron Dome and David’s Sling air defense systems.

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