May 91 min read

State Department Submits Key Report to Congress on Israel’s Use of US Weapons

In February, President Joe Biden issued National Security Memorandum 20 (NSM-20, or “National Security Memorandum on Safeguards and Accountability With Respect to Transferred Defense Articles and Defense Services”), which directs the U.S. State Department to “obtain certain credible and reliable written assurances from foreign governments receiving [U.S.] defense articles and, as appropriate, defense services” that they will abide by U.S. and international law. NSM-20 also requires the Departments of State and Defense to report to Congress within 90 days on the extent to which such partners are abiding by their assurances.

Today, Secretary of State Antony Blinken submitted the Department’s overdue NSM-20 report on assurances by Israel and other countries to Congress. Just Security obtained an unclassified version of the report, which is available here.