Senate Rejects Sanders' Bid to Block Arms Sales to Israel: A Turning Point in US Foreign Policy?
In a series of votes on Wednesday, the U.S. Senate decisively rejected resolutions aimed at blocking arms sales to Israel, marking a significant moment in the ongoing debate over U.S. foreign policy in the Middle East.
The resolutions, spearheaded by Senator Bernie Sanders (I-Vermont), sought to halt the sale of tank rounds, mortar rounds, and Joint Direct Attack Munitions (JDAMs) to Israel. These sales are part of a more significant $20 billion arms deal approved by the Biden administration.
The Senate voted down the resolution to block the sale of tank rounds by a margin of 79 to 18. Similar results were seen for the other two resolutions, with 78 senators voting against blocking mortar rounds and 80 opposing the halt of JDAM sales.
Speaking on the Senate floor before the vote, Senator Sanders emphasized moral and legal imperatives for blocking the sales. "The United States government must obey the law," Sanders stated, referencing the Foreign Assistance Act and the Arms Export Control Act. These laws prohibit the U.S. from providing weapons to countries that violate internationally recognized human rights or block U.S. humanitarian aid.
Despite the resolutions' failure, supporters see the vote as a historic moment. Hassan El-Tayyab, an advocacy organizer, characterized the vote as sending a strong message that the "status quo is unacceptable."
The White House actively opposed the resolutions. A spokesperson from the National Security Council stated, "We firmly oppose this resolution and have communicated our stance to relevant Senators."
The vote highlighted growing divisions within the Democratic Party over U.S. policy towards Israel. Most Democrats on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee voted to advance the resolutions.
Pro-Israel organizations, such as the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC), lobbied against the resolutions. AIPAC warned its supporters that "Undermining Israel's security while it faces a multi-front conflict is perilous for both America and the Jewish state."
The humanitarian situation in Gaza has intensified scrutiny of U.S. military aid to Israel. According to the Gazan health ministry, at least 43,000 individuals have lost their lives in the ongoing conflict.
Despite the resolutions' defeat, some pro-Palestinian advocacy groups see the vote as indicative of a shift within the Democratic Party. Hamid Bendaas, speaking for an advocacy group supporting Palestinian rights, stated, "The historic vote today to block arms sales to Israel, led by Senator Bernie Sanders, demonstrates that Democrats are beginning to grasp the lessons from this election and are starting to heed the voices of their constituents"4.
As the conflict continues and the humanitarian crisis deepens, this Senate vote is likely to be remembered as a pivotal moment in the ongoing debate over U.S. involvement in the Israel-Palestine conflict.