Defending Israel's QME Act of 2017

Introduced in response to signature of a major arms deal with Saudi Arabia during President Trump’s trip to Riyadh on 5/20/17–5/22/17, this bill would convey the sense of Congress that the president should ensure that any such deals “do not in any way adversely affect Israel’s qualitative military edge,” or QME, and direct him to consult with Israeli officials prior to making any determination about a potential agreement’s effects on Israel’s QME. It would also amend existing reporting requirements relating to Israel’s QME, which are triggered by a proposed arms sale, to require an assessment of Israel’s ability to defend itself from non-state actors, the risk posed to Israel if the buyer subsequently sold the weapons, and the countermeasures available to Israel to defend itself against the weapons involved in the sale.