House Democrats Want to Make Sure Israel Is Not Using US Equipment in Home Demolitions
Photo: AFPThe Arab Center in Washington DC reported congressional Democrats wrote a letter to Secretary of State Mike Pompeo this week requesting that US equipment would not be used in the demolition of Palestinian homes:
Israel has long implemented a policy of demolishing Palestinian homes and other structures in the occupied West Bank. The Israeli government usually cites the lack of building permits as an excuse or it demolishes the homes of the families of individuals the Israeli government deems “terrorists”—a practice that many view as a form of collective punishment that is illegal under international law. Some House Democrats are equally concerned about Israel’s policies—and the fact that the United States could be implicated in this practice.
Over 60 House Democrats signed onto a letter spearheaded by California Reps. Ro Khanna and Anna Eshoo asking the administration to pressure Israel to stop the practice of demolishing homes and to ensure that the equipment of “U.S.-origin” is not used to further this dangerous practice.
According to longstanding US policy, US-provided equipment must be used only for “legitimate self-defense” and lawmakers want to ensure that the law is not violated by Israel’s continued demolition of homes and displacement of Palestinian families.
Compiled by Arab America
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