Democratic Senators Seek to Delay US Defense Budget Over Israel Military Ties

Democratic lawmakers in the US Senate are urging their colleagues to block the advancement of the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) until the Senate addresses the military and intelligence cooperation between the United States and Israel. The NDAA, which sets the budget, policies, and priorities for the US Department of Defense, is a key piece of legislation. In a letter obtained by Reuters, Senator Chris Van Hollen, a Democrat and the letter's initiator, stated that Democrats should refrain from supporting votes that would encourage President Biden to deepen ties with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's government, which he described as extreme.