US Senators Urge Congress to Cut Defense and Intelligence Ties with Israel
A group of 12 US senators has urged congressional leaders to remove provisions expanding defense and intelligence cooperation with Israel from the 2027 defense budget, warning of security risks and strategic dependency.
A group of 12 US senators, led by Democratic Senator Chris Van Hollen, has urged congressional leadership to remove provisions expanding defense and intelligence cooperation with Israel from the 2027 National Defense Authorization Act.
According to reports, the lawmakers warn that the legislation could grant Israel leverage over sensitive military technologies, restrict US decision-making autonomy, and undermine national security. In their letter to congressional leaders, the senators argued that deepening technological ties comes at a time when Israeli military actions in Gaza, the West Bank, and other regions allegedly run counter to American interests.
At the core of the dispute are provisions calling for the establishment of a US-Israel defense technology cooperation initiative. The proposal aims to accelerate joint development in advanced fields such as artificial intelligence, autonomous systems, quantum technology, and cyber warfare. Lawmakers caution that integrating Israeli technology into the US defense industrial base would create a dangerous dependency. As an example, they cited Israel's past refusal to allow the transfer of Iron Dome batteries to Ukraine, arguing that joint development agreements effectively grant veto power over weapon systems.
The letter also addresses Section 618 of the Intelligence Authorization Act, which mandates expanded intelligence sharing with Israel and prohibits the executive branch from suspending or substantially reducing such cooperation. The senators argued that stripping the president of this flexibility is irresponsible and could jeopardize sensitive information, particularly given recent Defense Intelligence Agency assessments regarding counterintelligence risks involving Israel.
The senators pointedly criticized Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, claiming the congressional push serves his vision of replacing traditional military aid with a partnership model. Alongside Van Hollen and independent Senator Bernie Sanders, ten other Democratic senators signed the letter, including Elizabeth Warren, Brian Schatz, and Patty Murray, highlighting mounting political friction over the boundaries of strategic cooperation.
