US Senate rejects Sanders’ resolutions to block Israel arms sales

The US Senate on Wednesday rejected two resolutions sponsored by Senator Bernie Sanders that sought to block nearly $500 million in weapons sales to Israel. The first resolution, S.J. Res. 32, aimed to prohibit the sale of $295 million worth of armored bulldozers. The Senate voted 40-59 against the motion to discharge the resolution.

Democratic senators vote no

Several Democratic senators, including Rich Blumenthal, Chris Coons, Catherine Cortez Masto, John Fetterman, Kirsten Gillibrand, Jacky Rosen, and Chuck Schumer, voted against the measure. Senator Cynthia Lummis did not vote. A second resolution, S.J. Res. 138, aimed to block the $151.8 million sale of 1,000-pound bombs. It was also rejected by a vote of 36-63.

Sanders: American people oppose Israel’s war policies

Speaking on the Senate floor before the vote, Sanders argued that the American people do not want the US to continue spending billions of dollars in support of what he called Israel’s “illegal, horrific and expansionist war policies.” The vote underscores continued congressional support for Israel despite growing criticism over its military operations in Gaza and the West Bank.