Warnings in Washington about a bill that could restrict any US president from reconsidering the military relationship with Israel

 

 A bill included in the U.S. National Defense Authorization Act has sparked increasing controversy in the United States, amid warnings that its passage could lead to an unprecedented deepening of military cooperation between Washington and Tel Aviv, limiting the ability of any future U.S. administration to reconsider the nature of this relationship.

The US House of Representatives voted Wednesday in favor of a record $1.15 trillion National Defense Authorization Act for fiscal year 2027, which includes a controversial provision aimed at increasing cooperation between the US and Israeli militaries. The bill passed by a vote of 216 to 212, with most Republicans supporting it and most Democrats opposing it along party lines.

The debate centers on Article 219 of the bill, which establishes a joint US-Israeli defense technology cooperation initiative. This initiative includes expanding cooperation in military research, development, and production, particularly in artificial intelligence, autonomous systems, and advanced defense technologies. The bill also includes other provisions, such as Article 622, which aims to "expand and enhance intelligence sharing" with Israel and reduce restrictions on this cooperation.

Critics of these provisions warn that they could lead to a deeper integration between the American and Israeli military systems , making it more difficult for any president or Congress to modify the relationship in the future, even if public opinion or political priorities change.

According to critics of the bill, some provisions could limit the US president's ability to restrict intelligence cooperation with Israel over human rights violations, except after notifying Congress and providing justifications based solely on US national security considerations.

Democratic Representative Ro Khanna said that efforts will now focus on removing these provisions during negotiations between the House and Senate, adding: “We now need to fight to remove this amendment in the congressional conference between the House and Senate.”

Khanna and Republican Representative Thomas Massie had proposed an amendment to remove Section 219 from the bill, but the House Rules Committee blocked it from being debated, so the clause remained in the text presented to the House.

Democratic Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez described the bill as an “existential threat to American sovereignty and democracy,” while Representative Ilhan Omar considered Article 219 to be a “serious threat to the country’s security and independence of its decisions.”

In contrast, broader Democratic opposition to the defense bill focused on the Republican leadership's decision to attach the "Protecting American Voters' Eligibility" (SAVE America Act) to the defense spending package, a measure that requires proof of citizenship to register to vote in federal elections, which sparked Democratic objections because it included a controversial election issue within legislation related to national security.

Critics of strengthening military cooperation with Israel base their arguments on recent polls indicating a decline in American public support for some aspects of the relationship, with a rise in the percentage of Americans who hold a negative view of Israel, and increasing calls to reassess unconditional military aid to the government of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

They also noted that shifts in public opinion, particularly among young voters, have prompted some lawmakers to call for a review of U.S. policy toward Israel, arguing that enshrining military cooperation in long-term laws may prevent U.S. foreign policy from responding to these shifts.

The National Defense Authorization Bill is scheduled to move to the Senate, where members will debate their own version of the legislation before reaching a final version.

Senator Bernie Sanders said Americans are “sending a clear message: no more U.S. military support for the Netanyahu government,” calling for the rejection of the defense bill, which he said brings the U.S. and Israeli militaries closer together.