NPC Resolution: Endorse Block the Bombs

SMC drafted and introduced a resolution to Endorse “Block the Bombs.” This was lightly amended and unanimously approved by the National Political Committee (NPC).

The resolution’s passage allows DSA to join the "Block the Bombs" coalition, alongside groups like IMEU Policy Project, Adalah Justice Project, Jewish Voice for Peace Action, US Campaign for Palestinian Rights Action (USCPR), and IfNotNow in support of HR 3565, also known as the "Block the Bombs Act," which would cut off the supply of Israel's most critical warfighting material and drastically limit Israel's ability to commit genocide and ethnic cleansing. This resolution prompts DSA to identify key districts for conducting pressure campaigns to get representatives to sign onto the bill. Over 50 Congressional representatives have signed on to H.R. 3565, and this would be the first law ever passed by Congress to cut military aid to Israel.

The original text, introduced by NPC member Jeremy Cohan (SMC), is in default black font. Amended passages, written by NPC member Francesca (SoR), are in blue.

A link to the full approved text will be added here when the NPC meeting’s notes are made public.

Resolution Text

WHEREAS, in early October of this year, the Trump administration unveiled a “Twenty-Point Peace Plan” for Gaza, with the stated goal of “ending the war” and “establishing dialogue” between Israel and Palestine rooted in peaceful co-existence, and

WHEREAS, despite agreeing to this plan, Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu has continued to order “powerful strikes,” killing over 100 people, in addition to the over 10% of Gaza’s population having been murdered or injured in the last two years, and

WHEREAS, this continued challenge to the current ceasefire is enabled by the ongoing provision of weapons and resources in the amount of more than $30 billion from the United States to Israel, and

WHEREAS, an arms embargo is the only way to ensure an end to the violence, and

WHEREAS, the “Block the Bombs Act,” also known as HR 3565, is the first of its kind: a bill that seeks to proactively block major weapons to Israel, and

WHEREAS, DSA recognizes that the "Block the Bombs" Act does not end the sale of all military cargo to Israel, but that its passage would cut off the supply of Israel's most critical warfighting materiel (such as the 2000 lb MK80-series bombs) and drastically limit Israel's ability to commit genocide and ethnic cleansing, and

WHEREAS, DSA will continue to call for a total military embargo on Israel, and fight to pass the Block the Bombs Act as a step towards a full arms embargo, in the same way that Spanish and Belgian comrades have fought to progressively limit military cargo to Israel until winning a complete arms embargo, and

WHEREAS, There is an opportunity for intervening as more legislators stand on the side of an arms embargo — as demonstrated in sign-ons to this bill, more legislators voting in disapproval of Trump’s arms sales, and a Congressional Progressive Caucus endorsement of this bill, and

WHEREAS, DSA understands the necessity for a broad and multi-faceted approach toward stopping Israel’s war crimes in Gaza and across Western Asia,

WHEREAS, DSA’s must clearly articulate our legislative strategy in order to work with elected officials to move their positions and reach our goals,

WHEREAS, DSA recognizes the utility in mobilizing members of the general public who oppose Israel’s war crimes in Gaza and across Western Asia and their potential willingness to become members of the organization as a result of our fervent solidarity with the Palestinian people,  

Therefore, be it resolved, that DSA will join IMEU Policy Project, Center for Constitutional Rights (NYC), Adalah Justice Project, American Friends Service Committee, Jewish Voice for Peace Action, AJP Action (VA), US Campaign for Palestinian Rights Action (USCPR), If Not Now, Peace Action (MD), American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee (ADC), MPower Action Fund, Action Corps, and Corporate Accountability (MA) as a sponsoring organization of the “Block the Bombs” coalition, and 

Be it further resolved, that joining the coalition will involve:

• Designating 2 representatives (two NPC members, one sitting on the NEC and one on the IC) to communicate information between the coalition and DSA, and represent DSA in any discussion. 

• Promoting the shared send-a-letter tool

• Hosting phonebanks to recruit constituents to contact their reps about the bill, and

Be it further resolved, this organizational mobilization will be bottomlined by the National Electoral Commission, along the model of “No Money for Massacres.” The NEC will recruit an organizing committee to lead the work in coordination with the International Committee and the co-chairs of IC Palestine, who will not be required to already be NEC members, and

Be it further resolved, The identification of targets will be led by the Congressional subcommittee created by the 2025 Convention. The subcommittee will consider districts where the representative is not already on board; and where there is a large Palestinian, Arab, or Muslim population, a large number of young people, or public opinion research showing the representative is out of line with their district, and

Be it further resolved, the project will begin with a $5,000 budget for phonebanks and may make an additional budget request once the scope and scale of the project is better established, and

Be it further resolved, data from this campaign will be used to understand the political conditions of Congressional districts where calls are made, and 

Be it further resolved, this NEC organizing committee will also undertake organizing tasks assigned to the NEC by resolutions “R36: A Unified Democratic Socialist Strategy for Palestinian Solidarity” and “R22: For a Fighting Anti-Zionist DSA” approved by the 2025 National Convention, including:

• identifying opportunities for state and local pro-Palestine legislation as modeled off of Zohran Mamdani’s “Not on Our Dime” bill in the NY State government (R36);

• provide template language and direct DSA-endorsed elected officials to advance and support municipal ordinances and local ballot measures that push municipalities or states to adopt divestment and/or other commitments to advance an arms embargo (R22);

• support DSA-endorsed elected officials in providing template language for legislation that advances civil rights protections for Palestine solidarity organizing, repeals laws and policies that limit our ability to organize (R22); and

Be it further resolved, the NEC organizing committee will report to the Arms Embargo Organizing Committee, established by R22 for the purpose of coordinating arms embargo-related organizing across different national and local bodies, which shall be convened by the NPC by the end of 2025; and

Be it further resolved, DSA will attempt to bring labor on board, tasking the National Labor Commission with creating a template for unions to endorse the bill, in coordination with the Labor for an Arms Embargo campaign.