But What Can You Do? tracks where 2026 candidates stand on U.S. weapons and funding for the government of Israel. How we check
Bill Foster
- ✓ Cosponsors the Block the Bombs Act
- Backed with $41K by PACs we track that support U.S. weapons funding for the government of Israel (lifetime)
Foster co-sponsored the Block the Bombs Act in July 2026, saying: "The United States simply cannot continue sending unconditional military aid to the Israeli government." He had backed conditioning transfers instead, but concluded: "Netanyahu refused."
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You asked Bill Foster where they stand.
Deep Dive
Foster represents Illinois's 11th District and is running for re-election. His position moved in a documented sequence, and he set out the reasoning himself.
In July 2026 he became a co-sponsor of the Block the Bombs Act and explained the change: "I initially supported the Ceasefire Compliance Act, which would [have conditioned offensive weapons transfers on Israeli policy changes in the West Bank and Gaza]. Netanyahu refused. With that in mind, I believe that unconditional restrictions on our arms transfers, like those included in the Block the Bombs Act, are now necessary." The report's headline quote from him: "The United States simply cannot continue sending unconditional military aid to the Israeli government."
Earlier he had argued for the conditioning approach rather than restriction. In April 2024 he emphasized providing Israel defensive weapons alongside humanitarian aid for civilians in Gaza.
After Prime Minister Netanyahu's address to Congress he called the handling of the war "disastrous".
The record
Supported sending weapons or funding in 3 of 6 tracked votes · Cosponsors the Block the Bombs Act
How this mark works
We track key votes on sending U.S. weapons and money to the government of Israel. A check means every tracked vote they cast came down against sending more, on the side of peace and de-escalation. A question mark means a mixed record: they sided with sending up to half of the time. An X means they voted to send more weapons and money in over half of their tracked votes, even as the way those weapons and dollars were being used became more and more obvious. At exactly half, money this election cycle from a lobbying group we track, or an endorsement from a group that backs sending weapons, makes it an X. Only votes actually cast are counted. Where a candidate has no recorded votes on these bills, the mark comes instead from a reviewed reading of their public record (money from the lobbying groups we track, endorsements, and their own words since January 26, 2024). There an X also covers fully backing the conduct of the war by the government of Israel without significant reservations, and a question mark also covers speaking about Israel without saying clearly where they stand on U.S. weapons and funding. A dash means No Position Found: we found nothing in their own words about Israel, Gaza or the war.
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Voted to send weapons or funding in some, but no more than half, of their recorded tracked votes. (Supported sending weapons or funding in 3 of 6 tracked votes.)
The money
$41K in lifetime support from the five lobbying groups we track
In their words
Research log
The notes behind this card: what we looked at, what we found, and where each item came from.
U.S. military aid and weapons to Israel
- [Position, 2026-07-14] Anadolu Agency report, opened and confirmed word for word. Standfirst quote attributed to him: "The United States simply cannot continue sending unconditional military aid to the Israeli government." Body, quoting his post on X: "I initially supported the Ceasefire Compliance Act, which would have conditioned offensive weapons transfers on changes in Israeli policies in the occupied West Bank and Gaza Strip... Netanyahu refused. With that in mind, I believe that unconditional restrictions on our arms transfers, like those included in the Block the Bombs Act, are now necessary." His own post is also cited by the research (his Facebook page; login-walled).
- [After October 7, 2023-12-21] Statement on Israeli military strategy in Gaza: supported requiring that all military assistance and weapons provided under the national security supplemental be used in accordance with U.S. law and international humanitarian law, with strict congressional oversight; urged the President to use American leverage to change Israel's military strategy. Not opened. Note the date: this is inside the weeks right after October 7, so it does not lead the card.
- [Position, 2024-04-20] Statement on passage of the foreign aid supplemental: emphasized providing defensive weapons to help Israel defend itself against Hamas and Iranian-backed groups, alongside humanitarian aid for civilians in Gaza. Not opened.
- [2023-11-01] His issues page on the war. Not opened.
- His recorded votes on the tracked bills appear as badges on this card. The statements above are his own account of a position that changed over time, which is what the profile is for.
U.S. aid to Palestinians
- [Position, 2024-04-20] Paired support for humanitarian aid to Gaza civilians with defensive assistance to Israel (April 2024 statement, above).
Characterization of the conflict
- [Position, 2024-07-24] Statement after Netanyahu's address to Congress: called his handling of the war "disastrous," producing an "avoidable humanitarian crisis" and a "tragic loss of Israel's standing in the world." Not opened.
- [After October 7, 2023-12-21] Described the civilian death toll as "unacceptable" and the humanitarian crisis as worsening, in the December statement above.
- [Position, 2024-03-11] During his primary campaign he affirmed Israel's right to defend itself and support for a two-state solution (Shaw Local).
- [Position, 2025-01-15] and [2025-10-09] Statements welcoming ceasefire agreements (January, October).
Related rhetoric and lobbying
- [2025-07-30] CBS Chicago reported hecklers on Gaza at a town hall. Coverage of an event, not a statement of position.
Safety and antisemitism (context)
- [After October 7, 2023-12-05] Statement on H.Res. 894: called rising antisemitism an urgent threat while cautioning against definitions conflating anti-Zionism with antisemitism.
Also in this race
- ✗Supports Jeffrey Walter (Republican)
All Illinois candidates.
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