WASHINGTON (Middle East Eye) – U.S. Congresswoman Ilhan Omar introduced a joint resolution on Friday aimed at blocking a $650mn weapons sale to Saudi Arabia, the first major arms sale to the kingdom during President Joe Biden’s administration.
The progressive lawmaker said she introduced the legislation in opposition to the Saudi-led coalition’s offensive in the war in Yemen, as well as Riyadh’s crackdown on dissidents at home and abroad.
“It is simply unconscionable to sell weapons to Saudi Arabia while they continue to slaughter innocent people and starve millions in Yemen, kill and torture dissidents, and support modern-day slavery,” Omar said in a statement announcing the bill.
“We should never be selling human rights abusers weapons, but we certainly should not be doing so in the midst of a humanitarian crisis they are responsible for. Congress has the authority to stop these sales, and we must exercise that power.”
The resolution would require approval by a two-thirds majority in both the House and Senate. It was welcomed by a number of rights groups in Washington, including Democracy for the Arab World Now (DAWN).
“The United States should not sell any weapons to Saudi Arabia or other abusive governments, period. Congress should block this and similar deals in the future,” Raed Jarrar, DAWN’s advocacy director, said in a statement.
The $650mn sale was announced by the Biden administration last week, when it sent a formal notification to Congress.
Saudi Arabia and its regional allies invaded Yemen in March 2015, launching an aerial bombing campaign against civilians.
The country is frequently described by the United Nations as the world’s worst humanitarian crisis, with more than 230,000 people killed, an estimated four million displaced, and around 80 percent of Yemenis dependent on aid for survival.
Earlier this week, a group of prominent Democratic lawmakers slammed the potential sale to Riyadh, saying that the U.S. “continues to provide logistical support and spare parts” that aid the Saudi Air Force’s aggression on Yemen.
“The only way to truly protect people in the region is to bring the war in Yemen to an end. The conflict has now claimed thousands of lives and remains a devastating humanitarian disaster,” said the members of Congress, which included Tom Malinowski, Jim McGovern and Adam Schiff.