Rights groups call on Congress to stop selling of F-35 fighters to UAE

SANAA, Dec. 1 (YPA) – Twenty-nine human rights organizations have called on the US Congress to halt a $23 billion arms deal for the UAE, including missiles and fighter jets.

Organizations active in human rights and arms control issues signed a letter opposing the deal, Reuters reported Monday.

The organization’s letter, to be sent to lawmakers and the US Department of State, indicated that the UAE is a party to the conflicts in Yemen and Libya, which could exacerbate humanitarian crises in these countries.

“The hope is to stop these sales altogether,” said Seth Binder, advocacy officer at the Project on Middle East Democracy (POMED), who spearheaded the effort.

“But if that is not possible in the short term, this sends an important signal to the incoming Biden administration that there is a diverse group of organizations that oppose delivery of these weapons,” he added

Three US Senators introduced a bill to stop the deal.

The deal includes aircraft produced by General Atomics, F-35 fighter jets produced by Lockheed Martin, as well as missiles produced by Raytheon.

The bill paves the way for a showdown with US President Donald Trump just weeks before he leaves the White House.

E.M