U.S. Senator Angus King (I-Maine) wants the U.S. government to suspend its assistance to Israel, America’s key ally in the Middle East, until the Jewish state changes its policies with respect to Gaza, Maine’s junior senator announced on Monday.
“I cannot defend the indefensible. Israel’s actions in the conduct of the war in Gaza, especially its failure to address the unimaginable humanitarian crisis now unfolding, is an affront to human decency. What appears to be a deliberately-induced famine among a civilian population—including tens of thousands of starving children—can never be an acceptable military strategy,” Sen. King said in a statement.
A member of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence and the Senate Armed Services Committee, King is among the first U.S. senators to call for freeze on aid to Israel full-stop. Earlier this year, fifteen Senate Democrats said they were considering a pause on military assistance and 45 Democratic senators joined a resolution calling for an end to Israel’s siege of Gaza.
King caucuses with Senate Democrats and votes with them on most issues. Senate Democrats like Maryland’s Chris Van Hollen, Vermont’s Peter Welch and 19 others are now demanding answers from Israel on its Gaza policy.
In his statement this week, King said that Israel had a right to pursue military action following Hamas murder and kidnapping of its citizens on October 7, 2023 and that Hamas’ actions are in no way justified. But given the continuing humanitarian crisis in Gaza, Kind said he believes Israel has now gone too far.
“For these reasons, I am through supporting the actions of the current Israeli government and will advocate—and vote—for an end to any United States support whatsoever until there is a demonstrable change in the direction of Israeli policy. My litmus test will be simple: no aid of any kind as long as there are starving children in Gaza due to the action or inaction of the Israeli government,” King added.
U.S. Senator Susan Collins (R-Maine), who chairs the Senate Appropriations Committee and sits with King on the intelligence committee, continues to support Israel as does Second District Congressman Jared Golden, a Democrat. First District Congresswoman Chellie Pingree (D-ME) has been more pointed in her criticism of Israel, but has yet to call for a stop to aid.
Currently, the U.S. provides Israel nearly four billion dollars a years, most of which consists of foreign military sales and transfers.
