Senate Votes Down Bernie Sanders’s Resolutions to Restrict Arms Sales to Israel
Senator Bernie Sanders (I., Vt.), an avowed socialist, brought a vote on three joint resolutions of disapproval to block the U.S. from sending some of the $20 billion of weapons to Israel the Biden administration approved in August.
On a bipartisan basis, the Senate rejected Sanders’s push to halt offensive weapons sales to Israel as many Republicans and some Democrats reaffirmed their pro-Israel stances. Sanders’s three resolutions failed 18–79 with a Senator voting present, 18–79–1, and 17–80–1, respectively, with each vote addressing a different offensive weapon.
Republicans have been almost uniformly behind Israel’s war effort against Hamas in Gaza and Hezbollah in Lebanon that began after Hamas’s mass civilian slaughter on October 7, 2023. All the GOP Senators present for the vote opposed Sanders’s joint resolution.
“While Israel is being attacked on all fronts, it should not be under attack in the halls of Congress,” Senator Joni Ernst (R., Iowa) said in a statement.
“Instead of blocking critical weapons as Israel fights for its own existence, we must provide them with the tools needed to demolish Iran-backed Hamas and send a clear message back to Tehran.”
Sanders explained his reasoning in a Washington Post op-ed claiming it is immoral to continue supplying Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
“Our colleague began by characterizing Israel’s response to the horrors of October 7th as ‘all-out war against the Palestinian people.’ There is, indeed a side in this conflict waging all-out war,” outgoing Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R., Ky.) said on the Senate floor Wednesday morning, addressing Sanders’s assertions.
“The side waging all-out war is the one for whom civilian casualties are the end goal – the side that butchered, raped, and kidnapped Israeli civilians and continues to use Palestinian civilians as human shields. The side that pilfers humanitarian aid intended for its own citizens,” he added.
“Recognizing this distinction isn’t just important to this discussion. It ought to be the price of admission.”
Republicans including Senator Jim Risch (R., Id.), Senator Lindsey Graham (R., S.C.), and Senator John Kennedy (R., La.) delivered floor speeches lambasting the Biden administration’s lax approach to Iran and making the case for maintaining America’s close alliance with Israel.
“Israel has had to respond to an attack that was the most vicious since World War II against the Jewish people. I blame Hamas more than any other group about the loss of life in Gaza because they use their own people as human shields. This commitment of the United States to give Israel what they need to win a war they can’t afford to lose has to be uncompromising,” Graham said.
Plenty of Democrats joined Republicans in voting against Sanders’s resolutions, a reflection of the party’s deep divide on what the U.S. relationship with Israel should look like.
“I urge all of my Senate colleagues to join me in strongly opposing the proposal to restrict arm sales to Israel, particularly when it continues to be under constant attack,” Senator Jacky Rosen (D., Nev.) said in a statement ahead of the vote.
“We must ensure Israel has what it needs to defend itself from Iran and its terrorist proxies.”
Rosen delivered a floor speech outlining the threats Israel faces from Iran and its terrorist proxies, and made the case why Democrats should back Israel regardless of their critiques of Netanyahu’s government.
Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D., N.Y.) similarly explained on the floor about why he “strongly” opposes the motions Sanders put forward.
“Israel is surrounded by enemies dedicated to its annihilation,” Schumer said. “These threats sadly have been around for a long time and will persist for many years into the future. Israel needs to protect itself, not just today, but also tomorrow, and next year, and beyond.” he added.
“Many of the arm sales in question today will not reach Israel until years from now. We have no idea what kind of threats Israel will face by then. It could be an even more emboldened Iran,” he added.
Sanders asserted that his objections to the arms are grounded in international law and purported human rights violations by Israeli forces against innocent Gazan people. He received support from likeminded progressives such as Senator Elizabeth Warren (D., Mass.), Senator Jeff Merkley (D. Ore.) and Chris Van Hollen (D., Md.) in his unsuccessful attempt to prevent the U.S. from sending Israel offensive weapons systems.
Other Democrats like Senator Tim Kaine (D., Va.) got behind Sanders’ effort because of alleged harms to innocent civilians. In announcing his plan to vote for the resolution, Kaine distinguished between providing Israel defensive weapons to protect itself from drone attacks and offensive weapons to deploy in Gaza and elsewhere.
“I will vote to oppose the transfers of mortars, tank rounds, and Joint Direct Attack Munitions (JDAMs) to Israel. We must work toward de-escalation and a sustainable peace that provides for the safety and security of the Israeli, Palestinian and Lebanese people, and for U.S. servicemembers deployed throughout the region,” Kaine said in a statement ahead of the vote.The weapons Sanders objected to included joint direct attack munitions, 120mm mortar rounds, and 120mm tank rounds. He believes the U.S. should impose harsher conditions on Israel in exchange for more military aid and security cooperation.
Sanders’s attempt to restrict weapons sales to Israel follows the GOP’s successful recapturing of the Senate. In all likelihood, Republican control will marginalize the anti-Israel faction of the Democratic Party.
Incoming Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R., S.D.) said Tuesday the GOP will send more aid Israel’s way and sanction the International Criminal Court for issuing arrest warrants for Israeli officials.
“To our allies in Israel, and to the Jewish people around the world, my message to you is this: Reinforcements are on the way,” Thune promised at a press conference.
“We will make clear that the United States Congress stands squarely in Israel’s corner and we will help the Trump-Vance administration defend Israel and promote peace in the region.”
President-elect Donald Trump’s picks for key national-security positions in his cabinet are all steadfast in their support for the Jewish state’s fight against Hamas and Hezbollah.
Representative Elise Stefanik (R., N.Y.), Trump’s choice for United Nations Ambassador, is a leading advocate for Israel’s self-defense and met with multiple GOP Senate colleagues Wednesday to discuss their commitment to Israel, among other issues.
A Jewish anti-Semite. wow.
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