US House lawmakers introduce resolutions to block offensive weapons sales to Israel

Palestinian-American Congresswoman Rashida Tlaib joined fellow House Democrat Pramila Jayapal on Monday to introduce four joint resolutions of disapproval (JRD) to block certain offensive weapons sales to Israel that the Trump administration has already authorised. 

This effort in the lower chamber of Congress is in support of the JRDs being presented by Senator Bernie Sanders in the upper chamber and announced last week. 

If passed, the JRDs would prohibit the sale of:

- 35,529 2,000-pound bombs (MK-84 or BLU-117) 
- Various bombs, Joint Direct Attack Munition (UDAM) guidance kits, and fuses
- 5,000 1-000-pound bombs (MK-83 or BLU-110A/B) and 5,000 JDAMs guidance kits
- D9R and D9T Caterpillar bulldozers, including spare and repair parts 

Like the JRDs attempted late last year in the Senate, the vote will be more of a test to find out which lawmakers are willing to break with tradition on Israel after nearly 18 months of its war on Gaza. 

The House is majority Republican, so the JRDs are not expected to pass.