Twelve US senators demand removal of Israel defense and intelligence clauses from new bill

A group of twelve United States senators sent a letter on November 10 urging congressional leaders to strip three specific provisions from the Fiscal Year 2027 National Defense Authorization Act. The lawmakers, comprising eleven Democrats and Independent Senator Bernie Sanders, expressed concern that the proposed language would deepen technological ties with Israel at a time of regional tension. They argued that these measures could restrict the executive branch's ability to make independent national security decisions.

The letter was addressed to key leadership figures, including Senate Majority Leader John Thune and Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, as well as House Speaker Mike Johnson and Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries. It was also sent to senior members of the Armed Services Committees in both chambers. The signatories included Senators Chris Van Hollen, Elizabeth Warren, Peter Welch, Edward Markey, Jeff Merkley, Brian Schatz, Patty Murray, Tina Smith, Ron Wyden, Andy Kim, and Tammy Duckworth.

The primary point of contention involves Section 1217 of the Senate version and Section 219 of the House version of the defense bill. These clauses would establish a United States-Israel Defense Technology Cooperation Initiative. The proposed program aims to accelerate bilateral cooperation in advanced fields such as artificial intelligence, quantum technology, autonomous systems, cyberwarfare, and biotechnology. The senators warned that such arrangements could embed Israeli technology into the US defense industrial base, creating long-term dependencies.

The lawmakers cited an existing missile defense agreement as a precedent for how Israel might gain influence. They noted that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's government had used that agreement to prevent American Iron Dome batteries from reaching Ukraine. The senators feared that expanding joint production would give Israel similar leverage over future US weapons systems and policy choices. They argued that the President could negotiate new agreements without Congress mandating them through legislation.

A separate concern in the letter addressed Section 618 of the Fiscal Year 2027 Intelligence Authorization Act. This provision, included by the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence, would require the executive branch to expand intelligence sharing with Israel. Crucially, it would prevent the government from suspending or materially limiting that sharing. The senators warned that this would tie the President's hands, potentially forcing the release of sensitive information even when withholding it might be necessary for security.

The letter characterized the intelligence sharing restriction as irresponsible, especially given recent reports on Israeli counterintelligence risks. The lawmakers asserted that the Defense Intelligence Agency had recently raised its assessment of the threat from Israel to the highest level. They used this claim to bolster their argument against locking in mandatory cooperation through statute.

The senators also criticized the broader shift in the US-Israel defense relationship from traditional aid to a partnership model. They quoted a letter from Netanyahu to Representative Marlin Stutzman, in which the Israeli leader expressed support for a resolution endorsing this framework change. The lawmakers argued that moving cooperation into joint acquisitions and development would make the relationship less transparent and increase American dependence on Israeli capabilities.

The group concluded by requesting the removal of Sections 1217, 219, and 618 from the final conference report. They maintained that while the US should maintain a strong security relationship with Israel, these specific mandates should not be legally embedded without independent national security assessments. The dispute highlights a growing congressional debate over how much authority the executive branch should retain in managing the bilateral defense partnership.