WASHINGTON, D.C. — The Green Party is calling for an immediate cutoff of aid to Saudi Arabia and for intense diplomatic pressure to halt the Saudis’ war in Yemen.
“Saudi Arabia is using weapons purchased from the U.S. in a campaign of indiscriminate killing in Yemen, with mass civilian casualties, including children, and attacks on medical facilities,” said Robin Laverne Wilson, New York Green candidate for the U.S. Senate ( http://www.robinforsenator.com ). “The Green Party demands a halt in aid to Saudi Arabia until the war on Yemen ceases and the Saudis stop arming violent movements in the Middle East and observe human rights in their own country.”
The State Department recently announced a $1.15 billion weapons sale to Saudi Arabia. The Obama Administration has sold arms amounting to $110 billion to Saudi Arabia.
Green presidential nominee Jill Stein called for an end to U.S. aid for Saudi Arabia during a press conference at the National Press Club on Aug. 23.
Green Party candidates and leaders said that the ongoing U.S. alliance with the Saudi regime is based on a desire by the U.S. to control access to the country’s vast oil reserves and maintain political control in the region.
“U.S. aid for Saudi Arabia is motivated by more than fossil-fuel addiction. The U.S. covets control over the world’s access to the Arabian oil spigot. We need a complete reversal of the current doctrine of petroleum politics and endless war that’s driving the climate crisis, conflict in the Middle East, and disregard for civilian lives — especially Muslim lives and human rights abroad and in the U.S.,” said Myles Hoenig, Green candidate for the U.S. House in Maryland, 7th District ( http://www.hoenig2016.com ).
Greens expressed concern that a Hillary Clinton Administration, if she is elected in November, will be even more unconditionally friendly to the Saudi government after the latter’s generous donations (between $10 million and $25 million) to the Clinton Foundation.
The State Department has ignored requests by Rep. Ted Lieu (D-Calif.) to meet and discuss the need for pressure on Saudi Arabia regarding its role in the Yemeni civil war following the ouster of Abd Rabbuh Mansur Hadi by Houthi rebels. Bills by Rep. Lieu and other members of the House and Senate to prohibit delivery of air-to-ground munitions from the U.S. to Saudi Arabia are stalled in committee.
“Reckless alliances and military aid deals for countries like Saudi Arabia, along with U.S.-led warfare in Iraq, Libya, and other countries, have only strengthened violent extremist groups like al-Qaeda and ISIL, exacerbated the refugee crisis, and created greater instability throughout the region,” said Matt Funiciello, Green candidate for the U.S. House in New York’s 21st Congressional District ( http://www.mattfunicielloforcongress.org ).
Greens said that the call for an end to U.S. aid for Saudi Arabia is consistent with the party’s support for cutting off aid for other countries with a pattern of human rights violations and violence against civilians, including Israel. The Green Party has endorsed boycott, divestment, and sanctions (BDS) until Israel ends its occupation of Palestinian lands and complies with international human rights laws and directives.