Democrat warns US is violating aid conditions law by sending money to Israel
Democrat warns US is violating aid conditions law by sending money to Israel The Independent
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Sustainable Development Goals and US Foreign Aid to Israel
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A retired Democratic senator has warned that the US may have violated its own laws around foreign aid by sending arms to Israel.
Patrick Leahy, a former Senator from Vermont, is best known for championing his namesake Leahy Law, which refers to two statutory provisions that prevent the federal government from using funds to assist foreign governments when there is credible information that they have committed “gross violations of human rights”.
When The Independent asked the former senator if the US sending aid to Israel complies with the law, his answer was clear: “No. Is that succinct enough for you?”
Mr Leahy, who retired from the Senate in 2023 after first being elected in 1975, said “the number of civilians who are being injured or killed by US paid armaments” comes in violation to the foreign aid laws named after him.
“There’s supposed to be restrictions on accounting,” he continued.
The US has repeatedly sent bombs and other weapons to Israel after Hamas launched a surprise attack on 7 October, in which at least 1,200 people were killed and around 200 were taken hostage. Since then, Israel’s attacks on Gaza have killed at least 30,000 Palestinians since October, according to the Hamas-run Gaza Health Ministry.
Questions arose as to whether the nation has violated the Leahy Law when the president released a new memo on foreign aid requirements last month, with some Democrats hailing it as a step towards potentially conditioning military aid to Israel. However, the memo only outlined existing laws stating that countries receiving US aid must follow humanitarian guidelines, such as providing “credible and reliable written assurances” that they are complying with international law and humanitarian standards.
The White House also denied that it would have an impact on billions of dollars of military aid slated for the longtime US ally.
His comments came as news broke that President Joe Bidenwill order US forces to build an aid seaport on the Gaza coast. Last week, the president also announced that US forces would also be airdropping humanitarian aid into Gaza.
The United Nations warned last month that some 576,000 people, or one-quarter of Gaza’s population, are “one step away from famine”. It has also accused Israel of “systematically” blocking aid deliveries into Gaza and of SDGs, Targets, and Indicators Analysis
The article discusses the violation of laws around foreign aid and the impact of sending arms to Israel. These issues are connected to SDG 16, which focuses on promoting peaceful and inclusive societies for sustainable development, providing access to justice for all, and building effective, accountable, and inclusive institutions at all levels. The article also mentions the involvement of the United Nations and the need for partnerships to address the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, which aligns with SDG 17.
The article highlights the violation of laws related to foreign aid and the impact of violence in Gaza. These issues align with Target 16.1, which aims to reduce violence and death rates. The mention of the need for access to justice and adherence to international law corresponds to Target 16.3. Additionally, the call for partnerships to address the crisis in Gaza relates to Target 17.16.
The article mentions the number of casualties and victims of violence in Gaza, which can be used as an indicator for measuring progress towards Target 16.1.1. The mention of the need for access to justice implies the importance of reporting victimization, which corresponds to Indicator 16.3.1. The call for partnerships and monitoring frameworks aligns with Indicator 17.16.1.
1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?
2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?
3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?
4. Table: SDGs, Targets, and Indicators
| SDGs | Targets | Indicators |
|---|---|---|
| SDG 16: Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions | Target 16.1: Significantly reduce all forms of violence and related death rates everywhere | Indicator 16.1.1: Number of victims of intentional homicide per 100,000 population, by sex and age |
| SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals | Target 16.3: Promote the rule of law at the national and international levels and ensure equal access to justice for all | Indicator 16.3.1: Proportion of victims of violence in the previous 12 months who reported their victimization to competent authorities or other officially recognized mechanisms |
| Target 17.16: Enhance the global partnership for sustainable development, complemented by multi-stakeholder partnerships that mobilize and share knowledge, expertise, technology, and financial resources | Indicator 17.16.1: Number of countries reporting progress in multi-stakeholder development effectiveness monitoring frameworks that support the achievement of the sustainable development goals |
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Source: independent.co.uk
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