BUSINESS/ The Executive buys the shares of the Legislative and Judiciary, creating the largest rift in the country

 Kliko këtu për të tjera
Voxpress:

Why could the Democratic victory in the US "sink" Israel's interests?

2026-11-13 17:20:15Kosova&Bota SHKRUAR NGA REDAKSIA VOX

Why could the Democratic victory in the US "sink" Israel's

After a significant victory in the midterm elections in the United States, Democrats are facing a new opportunity to block a controversial initiative aimed at deepening military and industrial cooperation between the United States and Israel.

According to an analysis published by Al Jazeera, activists and organizations opposing this initiative are calling on the Democratic Party to use its power in Congress to remove the relevant provision from the Pentagon funding bill for fiscal year 2027.

It is a gigantic funding package of 1.15 trillion dollars, known as the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), which includes a significant part of President Donald Trump's military plans, including the "Golden Dome" anti-missile shield and the project to build "Trump" class warships.

At the center of the debate is Section 219 of the Senate version of the bill, which provides for the creation of an initiative called the "US-Israel Defense Technology Cooperation Initiative."

This structure aims to expand and accelerate joint research, development, testing, and production of military technologies between the two countries.

Opponents of this provision warn that it could create a new channel through which the Pentagon will fund Israeli companies with American taxpayer money, bypassing congressional oversight.

According to them, the inclusion of Israeli technologies in American military systems could make it more difficult to change Washington's future policies toward Israel.

Cavan Kharrazian, senior policy advisor at the organization Demand Progress, told Al Jazeera that Democrats should make it clear that their support for the Pentagon funding bill depends on fundamental changes, including removing provisions for military integration with Israel and stopping funding for war with Iran.

According to him, Democrats have the opportunity to exert considerable pressure, as the bill requires 60 votes to pass in the Senate. This gives them the opportunity to block the process until their demands are met.

The deadline for approving the funding is December 11, when the government's temporary funding measure expires. Otherwise, Congress must approve another temporary funding or the full defense package.

Meanwhile, Democratic Representative Adam Smith, a member of the House Armed Services Committee, has called for a more sustainable approach to national security, opposing a military budget that exceeds $1 trillion and that, according to him, is financed at the expense of important social programs.

Smith initially supported, but later opposed, the provision for integrating US and Israeli military industries. However, top Democratic leaders Chuck Schumer and Hakeem Jeffries have yet to publicly state their position on the issue.

The number of senators against the initiative is increasing

Opposition to this provision is also spreading within the Democratic Party itself. In a letter published this week, 12 US senators have urged opposition to the inclusion of this initiative in the defense bill.

Among the signatories are well-known senators such as Bernie Sanders, Chris Van Hollen, Ron Wyden and Tammy Duckworth, who represent different currents within the Democratic camp.

In their letter, the senators warn that expanded cooperation in the fields of technology, weapons production, and military research could jeopardize US national security interests by giving Israel influence over American weapons systems and technologies.

They also argue that integrating Israeli technology into the US defense industry could create long-term dependencies, making any future US policy changes costly or difficult.

Senators consider this initiative particularly problematic at a time when the Israeli government pursues its policies in Gaza, the West Bank and other regions of the Middle East, which, according to them, do not align with the interests and values ​​of the United States.

Meanwhile, opposition to military support for Israel is also growing in American public opinion, especially within the Democratic electorate, against the backdrop of the war in Gaza.

According to analysts quoted by Al Jazeera, the way Democrats will act on this bill could serve as an important indicator of changing attitudes within the party towards military relations between Washington and Tel Aviv.


Në përputhje me standarded JTI

Video

SHIKO KANALIN NE YOUTUBE
×