Senate rejects Sanders’ bid to block $8.8 billion arms sales to Israel
The Senate recently rejected a proposal put forth by Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., that aimed to block the Trump administration’s planned $8.8 billion arms sale to Israel. Despite Sanders’ efforts, the proposal was split into two votes, both of which ultimately failed, with only 15 senators voting in favor of the measure.
Among those who supported Sanders were fourteen Democrats, including Sens. Richard Durbin, Ill., Martin Heinrich, N.M., Mazie Hirono, Hawaii, Ben Ray Luján, N.M., Tim Kaine, Va., Andy Kim, N.J., Ed Markey, Mass., Jeff Merkley, Ore., Chris Murphy, Conn., Brian Schatz, Hawaii, Tina Smith, Minn., Chris Van Hollen, Md., Elizabeth Warren, Mass., and Peter Welch, Vt.
Prior to the vote, Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman Jim Risch, R-Idaho, voiced concerns that passing the resolutions would mean abandoning Israel, a close ally in the Middle East, during a critical time for global security.
Sanders, in a video released before the vote, strongly criticized the Israeli government, particularly Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, for what he described as “barbaric” behavior and blocking humanitarian aid from reaching Gazans. He called on the U.S. to end its complicity in the situation in Gaza.
During the ceasefire period between Jan. 19, 2025, and March 2, 2025, a total of 25,200 aid trucks entered Gaza, including 4,200 weekly aid trucks, as reported by the Coordinator for Government Activities in the Territories.
Despite the failed proposal, bipartisan support for Israel has been a longstanding tradition in the U.S. However, the recent conflict between Israel and Hamas has caused divisions within the Democratic Party. Some, like Sen. John Fetterman, Pa., have staunchly defended Israel, while others, including Sanders, have been vocal critics.
This is not the first time Sanders has attempted to block weapons sales to Israel. A similar proposal introduced in November 2024 during the Biden administration also failed. Interestingly, many of the senators who supported Sanders’ recent proposal had also backed the resolution under the Biden administration, with a few exceptions.
In November 2024, Sanders accused the Israeli government of being controlled by “right-wing extremists” and “religious zealots,” alleging violations of international law by Netanyahu. Despite the repeated efforts, the arms sale to Israel continues as planned.
In conclusion, the Senate’s rejection of Sanders’ proposal highlights the complex dynamics surrounding U.S. support for Israel and the ongoing conflict in the Middle East.
—
This article was rewritten for a WordPress platform while maintaining the original content and key points from the provided HTML text.
