Rights groups press lawmakers to scrap provision to merge US and Israeli militaries

On Thursday, 56 civil rights and advocacy groups urged Congress to scrap a defence bill provision that would strengthen US-Israeli military technology ties, according to a letter seen by Reuters. Section 219 of the 2027 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) intends to institute frameworks for joint ventures, licensing agreements and US-based co-production partnerships. It passed in the House of Representatives in July and is pending Senate approval. Thursday’s letter addressed leaders of the House and Senate Armed Services Committees. Reuters reported that some of the letter's signatories include Amnesty International and the National Lawyers Guild, as well as Arab and Jewish groups. “At a time in which American interests are increasingly diverging from those of Israel, and American public opinion is turning increasingly against unconditional support to Israel, creating new points of influence for Israel in the US defense-technology ecosystem is exceptionally dangerous,” read the letter. Read more: Rights groups press lawmakers to scrap provision to merge US and Israeli militaries Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu meets with US President Donald Trump in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington on 28 July 2026 (Israeli Government Press Office/AFP)