Senate Strikes Down Bernie Sanders’ Resolution to Block Arms Sale to Israel
The U.S. Senate recently voted down three proposals introduced by Independent Senator Bernie Sanders from Vermont, which aimed to block the sale of approximately $20 billion in U.S. arms to Israel.
Sanders introduced these Joint Resolutions of Disapproval (JRDs) in late September, nearly a year after Hamas launched an attack on Israel on October 7, 2023. Following this, Israel’s military response in Gaza through air and ground campaigns has resulted in over 43,000 deaths, according to the Gaza Health Ministry.
The devastation in Gaza has been immense. United Nations officials have warned of an imminent famine, with over 1.8 million Palestinians facing what they describe as “extremely critical” levels of hunger, as reported by Newsweek.
On Wednesday evening, Sanders delivered a passionate appeal to his Senate colleagues, urging them not to “turn a blind eye” to the severe humanitarian crisis and U.S. complicity in “mass starvation.”
However, Sanders’ S.J. Res. 111 was defeated in the Senate by a vote of 18 to 79. Given the strong bipartisan support for Israel in the Senate, the failure of these motions was anticipated. Yet, the votes highlighted divisions among Democrats over President Joe Biden’s stance on the ongoing conflict.
Sanders, a Jewish senator, has been a vocal critic of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s military strategies and restrictions on humanitarian aid, accusing Israel of violating international law and exceeding its right to self-defense. He has also repeatedly expressed dissatisfaction with the Biden administration’s handling of the conflict and its unconditional support for Israel, without holding it accountable.
The resolutions, backed by Sanders and supported by Senators Peter Welch, Chris Van Hollen, and Jeff Merkley, sought to halt the transfer of U.S. munitions to Israel, including tank rounds, water rounds, and guidance kits for the “bombs dropped in Gaza.” At a press conference on Tuesday, Sanders emphasized that the U.S. was “complicit” in the war, its associated crimes, and violations of international law.
The measures would have blocked the sale of $20 billion worth of arms to Israel. According to the Council on Foreign Relations (CFR), the United States has provided Israel with more than $310 billion in economic and military assistance, including at least $228 billion in military aid, underscoring its strong alliance with Israel.
Sanders argued before the vote, “The United States government is currently in violation of the law, and every member of the U.S. Senate who believes in the rule of law should vote for the resolutions.” He accused the U.S. of breaching the Foreign Assistance Act and the Arms Export Control Act by providing weapons to nations that violate internationally recognized human rights or obstruct U.S. humanitarian aid.
Numerous humanitarian organizations and the United Nations have documented Israel’s actions, particularly its restrictions on humanitarian assistance. While Israel has stated it is delivering food and other humanitarian supplies, critics argue the efforts fall far short.
In a recent opinion piece for The Washington Post, Sanders wrote, “The need is greater than at any other time in the conflict; the volume of aid getting into Gaza in recent weeks is lower than at any point since the war began.” He continued, “All of this is unspeakable and immoral. But what makes it even more painful is that much of this death and destruction has been carried out with U.S. weaponry and paid for by American taxpayers. During the last year alone, the United States has provided $18 billion in military aid to Israel and delivered more than 50,000 tons of armaments and military equipment.”