Democratic Senators are currently divided on whether to impose new conditions on aid to Israel, with differing opinions on the potential impact of such measures.
Senator Chris Van Hollen, a proponent of imposing conditions, emphasized the need for the Biden administration to alter its policies to garner greater Democratic support for President Joe Biden. Van Hollen stated, 'I think the president simply needs to do what is the right policy, and that will send a message to people around the country that he is taking the right course.'
Van Hollen suggested that utilizing various levers of U.S. policy, including temporarily withholding offensive military systems, could be a strategic move to ensure the administration's policies are enforced.
On the other hand, Senate Foreign Relations Chair Ben Cardin expressed skepticism about the effectiveness of imposing conditions, particularly in achieving the immediate goal of delivering humanitarian aid to Gaza. Cardin emphasized the importance of facilitating humanitarian assistance without attaching conditionalities.
Senator Mark Kelly, who has not firmly committed to imposing conditions but has not ruled it out either, highlighted the need for potential adjustments in aid provision based on the progress or lack thereof in the region. Kelly also criticized Israel for its actions that resulted in the death of aid workers from World Central Kitchen, urging the Israeli Defense Forces to improve their practices.
The differing perspectives among Democratic Senators underscore the complexity of the situation and the challenges in determining the most effective approach to addressing the Israel-Palestine conflict while ensuring humanitarian aid reaches those in need.
