Washington:Twelve US senators have called on congressional leaders to eliminate certain provisions from a proposed defense bill that would enhance defense technology cooperation and intelligence sharing with Israel.
According to Anadolu Agency – English, the senators sent a joint letter emphasizing their concerns regarding the inclusion of three specific provisions in the Fiscal Year 2027 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). They argue that these provisions would deepen problematic aspects of the US-Israel defense and intelligence relationship at a time when actions by the Israeli government are perceived as undermining US interests and values.
The senators, including Chris Van Hollen, Bernie Sanders, and Elizabeth Warren, expressed that the disputed clauses could limit the US Administration's ability to independently protect national security and might lead to indefinite commitments despite existing reservations about Israeli military operations in Gaza, the West Bank, and the broader region.
The letter specifically criticizes Section 1217 of the Senate Armed Services Committee bill and Section 219 of the House-passed measure, which propose a "United States-Israel Defense Technology Cooperation Initiative." This initiative is aimed at accelerating bilateral co-production, technology transfers, and joint research in areas such as artificial intelligence, quantum computing, cyberwarfare, biotechnology, and autonomous systems.
Lawmakers highlighted that the US does not typically share or co-produce technologies in these sensitive areas even with treaty allies like NATO members. They noted that President Donald Trump already has the authority to negotiate bilateral accords without needing additional congressional mandates.
Furthermore, the senators cautioned that deeper integration could give Israel undue influence over American military assets. They referenced past instances where Israel used co-production terms to block the transfer of American Iron Dome batteries to Ukraine, arguing that embedding Israeli technology into the US defense system could complicate future policy decisions.
Additionally, the letter pointed out that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has claimed credit for shifting the defense relationship from aid to partnership, a move the senators fear could replace transparent military financing with more opaque defense acquisitions. They also expressed concern over Netanyahu's past statements about confronting Iran, which they view as a strategic misstep for US interests.
The coalition of senators also demanded the removal of Section 618 from the intelligence authorization title, which calls for expanding intelligence sharing with Israel while limiting the executive branch's ability to adjust this cooperation. They argued that restricting the president's flexibility in intelligence sharing is irresponsible, especially following reports that the Defense Intelligence Agency has recently heightened the counterintelligence threat level from Israel.