Washington, DC – The Friends Committee on National Legislation (FCNL) lamented the final passage of the massive $95 billion in further war funding for Israel, Ukraine, Taiwan, and others. This militarized approach to resolving conflict will result in further global instability and increasing civilian deaths.
Contact Tim McHugh: media@fcnl.org, 202-903-2515
“What is needed in Ukraine, Israel, and Palestine is peace, not more weapons of war. Congress should be pressing all parties for a ceasefire and investing in diplomacy to end these wars and address their root causes. Unless we break this cycle of violence, we will never achieve peace,” said FCNL’s general secretary Bridget Moix. “As Quakers, we will always stand on the side of peace and the peacemakers. These wars have gone on far too long, with far too many deaths on all sides. It’s time to invest in building peace, not waging more war.”
Ukraine, which has been at war with Russia since March 2014, will receive some $61 billion in US security assistance. Israel, which will receive $4 billion to replenish its missile defense systems, has been fighting in Gaza since October. It will also receive $17 billion more for other, potentially offensive and long range, weapons.
Fortunately, upwards of $9 billion will be sent as humanitarian assistance to vulnerable people globally, including Palestinians in Gaza.
“As a matter of faith, FCNL opposes all war and war funding. However, it is also important to recognize positive glimmers in this legislation. FCNL has long supported the Elie Wiesel Genocide and Atrocities Prevention Act and we welcome the extension of its reporting requirement by six years instead of expiring in 2025,” said Ursala Knudsen-Latta, FCNL’s peacebuilding legislative director. “There is never a bad time for Congress to show that genocide and atrocity prevention continues to have broad bipartisan support.”
The Elie Wiesel Genocide and Atrocities Prevention Act (P.L. 115-441), passed in 2019, requires annual reporting on the administration’s efforts to prevent and respond to atrocities, a global assessment of ongoing atrocities, and countries at risk. These annual reports have been particularly important in increasing government transparency and commitment to atrocity prevention work.
FCNL appreciates the leadership of Representatives Ann Wagner (MO) and Sara Jacobs (CA) in the House and Senators James Risch (ID) and Ben Cardin’s (MD) efforts to secure the Elie Wiesel Act’s extension.
To learn more, please visit www.fcnl.org.
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