Urge Senators Brown and Vance: Block $20 Billion in Weapons to Israel and Support Peace in the Middle East
Dear Senators Brown and Vance,
We, the undersigned organizations, are writing to urge you to support the Joint Resolutions of Disapproval (S.J.Res 111, 112, 113, 114, 115, and 116) introduced by Senators Bernie Sanders, Welch, and Merkley to block the sale of $20 billion in weapons to Israel. At this critical time, as the world witnesses the devastating human toll of the Israeli military’s actions, we implore you to stand with the majority of Americans, including Ohioans, who are calling for a reprioritization of our tax dollars to serve the needs of our communities here at home. Further, under Sections 620I and 620M of the Foreign Assistance Act, the U.S. government is prohibited from allocating funds to foreign security services that block delivery of U.S. humanitarian aid or violate human rights with impunity. We now know that our own state department issued dire warnings about Israeli violations of international law as early as October of 2023.
Since then, 17.9 Billion dollars have been allocated to support Israel’s military, while many families across the U.S. are struggling to meet basic needs. Every night, 1 in 5 children in the United States go to bed hungry, a glaring reminder that our own citizens are suffering. Meanwhile, the devastation caused by recent hurricanes in the South has left families in desperate need of aid, yet FEMA is facing a shortage of funds to fully respond to this crisis. These issues require urgent attention, but instead, we are funneling billions toward foreign military engagements that only deepen instability abroad.
The Israeli military’s ongoing attacks in Lebanon have killed thousands of civilians, left some of your constituents stranded in Lebanon, and tragically claimed the lives of at least one American citizen. These bombings have not only violated international law but have also expanded the conflict to involve our own people. The situation is equally dire in Gaza, where relentless bombardment has claimed countless lives and exacerbated an already severe humanitarian crisis. These actions are not just tragic but unacceptable violations of international human rights standards. Yet, our government continues to enable this violence by providing weapons that fuel these ongoing massacres in both Gaza and Lebanon.
As constituents and advocates for justice and human rights, we cannot stand by while more innocent lives—both abroad and here at home—are lost. The American public, including a significant portion of the Jewish community, overwhelmingly supports a permanent ceasefire and an arms embargo as pathways to ending this bloodshed. Ohioans are among those calling for an end to this conflict and for a reallocation of resources to serve our own communities, where infrastructure, healthcare, and social services are woefully underfunded.
We ask that you:
Support the Joint Resolutions of Disapproval (S.J.Res 111-116), which would block the sale of $20 billion in weapons to Israel.
Publicly call for an immediate arms embargo with Israel to stop further escalation of violence and move towards peace.
Taking a stand now is a moral imperative. With each day that passes, more lives are lost, including Americans caught in this violence. Ohioans, along with the majority of Americans, demand an immediate end to this violence and a commitment to peace and justice for all people in the region.
We cannot afford to wait. We urge you to act now to stop the ongoing massacres, prevent further loss of life, and redirect our resources to support the millions of Americans facing hunger, disaster recovery, and a lack of essential services.
Thank you for your attention to this urgent matter. We look forward to your response and leadership in supporting this critical effort.
Sincerely,
YUSRA Organizing
OPAWL - Building AAPI Feminist Leadership
Ohio Women's Alliance
The Freedom BLOC
Avanzamos Unidos
Ohio Working Families Party
CAIR-Ohio
Abortion Fund of Ohio
Cuyahoga County Progressive Caucus
Asian American Midwest Progressives/AAMP Ohio
Students for Justice in Palestine at the University of Cincinnati
Northeast Ohio Worker Center
Ohioans Against Extremism
Faculty and Staff for Justice in Palestine OSU
Cincinnati Palestine Solidarity Coalition
Ohio for Palestine
Motherful
Jewish Voice for Peace Central Ohio
American Muslims for Palestine - Columbus
Noor Islamic Cultural Center - New Albany
Rasoul Law Office
Ahlul Bayt Society of Columbus
Sisters of Mercy in Ohio
Dominican Sisters of Peace
Ignite Peace