More than three dozen Democrats back a resolution introduced in the U.S. Senate Bernie Sanders Block arms sales to Israel.The move signals growing unease within the party over Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu amid the ongoing war with Iran. The Senate voted on two separate resolutions aimed at halting the sale of bulldozers and bombs to Israel.According to the Associated Press, both measures were opposed by all Republicans and were ultimately defeated by votes of 40 to 59 and 36 to 63. Sanders, an independent who caucuses with Democrats, has repeatedly forced votes on the issue to pressure lawmakers from both parties.After the vote, he said, “It’s clear that Democrats are listening to ordinary Americans who are tired of spending billions of dollars supporting Netanyahu’s horrific wars when people in this country can’t afford housing or health care.”Supporters of the resolutions include Mark Kelly, who had earlier opposed some of Sanders’ previous attempts.In explaining his decision, Kelly said “reckless decisions” by Netanyahu and U.S. President Donald Trump influenced his vote. He cited the expansion of the conflict into Lebanon and continued violence against Palestinians as factors that “undermine the peaceful path forward.”“Under Prime Minister Netanyahu’s government, we have seen the war in Lebanon expand, putting innocent Lebanese civilians at risk, and violence against Palestinians persisting, with their homes demolished in the West Bank. All of this undermines the path forward for peace,” Kelly said. However, several prominent Democrats, including Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand, voted against the resolutions. On the same day, Democrats also supported a separate resolution aimed at preventing the United States from being involved in the Iran conflict, but the resolution was defeated by a narrow margin of 47 to 52. Sen. Chris Coons, who voted against Sanders’ Israel resolution but supports ending the war with Iran, said his decision should not be seen as support for Netanyahu’s actions or an abandonment of Israel.Republicans have fiercely opposed the measures, warning of broader geopolitical consequences. Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman Jim Reish argued that blocking arms sales could embolden Iran and said the United States was willing to leave Israel vulnerable. “They’re not going to help the United States of America,” Risch said before the vote.
