Abdul Rahman Al-Sayed, the first Muslim to serve in the US Senate, has called on Washington to review its financial and military assistance to countries including Pakistan, Israel, Egypt and Jordan.
In an interview with ABC, Al-Sayed said the United States should ensure that its foreign aid policies comply with international law. He said the review should not be limited to Israel but should also include countries such as Pakistan, Egypt and Jordan.
“When we give money to a country that uses our money to violate international law, I believe that is a good place to start,” he said.
His comments came after President Donald Trump said he planned to end about $4bn in annual US military aid to Israel by the end of the year.
Al-Sayed welcomed Trump’s proposal to reduce military assistance to Israel, saying he agreed with the president’s policy on the issue.
He also called for restrictions on US arms sales to Israel, alleging that some American-supplied weapons have been used in actions that he described as involving genocide and apartheid.
Under a security agreement that runs until 2028, the United States currently provides Israel with $3.8bn in military assistance each year.
