The Senate rejected an effort Wednesday evening to halt U.S. transfers of offensive weapons to Israel, in a series of votes that highlighted Democratic divisions over continued U.S. support for Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s war in Gaza.
Sen. Bernard Sanders, Vermont Independent, forced votes on three joint resolutions of disapproval — one of the few legislative procedures not controlled by leadership — to block the Biden administration from selling Israel 120mm tank rounds, 120mm high-explosive mortar rounds and Joint Direct Attack Munitions, the guidance kits attached to bombs.
The votes highlighted the political strains for President Biden and his fellow Democrats over the war, sparked by the Oct. 7, 2023, rampage by Palestinian Hamas militants that has brought a ferocious Israeli military response in the densely populated Gaza enclave.
Senate Republicans, who were far more unified in their support for Israel, slammed Democrats for raising questions about the strength of the U.S.-Israeli alliance at a time of growing peril for the Jewish state.
“The refusal to have our allies’ back and the hesitation to call out antisemitism in our own country has consequences,” Senate Republican Whip John Thune of South Dakota said. “It enables bad behavior and bad actors around the world, and it encourages others to abandon Israel in their time of need.”
Mr. Sanders, who caucuses with Senate Democrats, said the weapons sales should be blocked because U.S. laws prohibit the administration from providing weapons to countries that violate internationally recognized human rights or block U.S. humanitarian aid, as he argues Israel is doing.
He cited the 44,000 Palestinians that Gaza health officials have been killed and more than 103,000 injured since the war began. Some two-thirds of the structures inside the enclave have been damaged or destroyed due to Israel’s military campaign. An estimated 1,200 Israeli and foreign nationals were killed in Hamas’ original assault, and the militant group still holds dozens of the more than 250 people taken hostage on October 7.
“Clearly what is happening in Gaza today is unspeakable, but what makes it even more painful is that much of this has been done with U.S. weapons and American taxpayer dollars,” Mr. Sanders said. “In the last year alone, the U.S. has provided $18 billion in military aid to Israel and delivered more than 50,000 tons of military equipment.”
“In other words, the United States is complicit in these atrocities. That complicity must end, and that is what these resolutions are about,” Mr. Sanders said.
Mr. Sanders took specific aim at Mr. Netanyahu, accusing him of repeatedly rebuffing U.S. efforts to negotiate a cease-fire and hostage-release deal, blocking humanitarian aid to Gaza, launching attacks without consulting the U.S., and refusing to engage in planning for postwar governance in Gaza.
Democrats supporting Mr. Sanders’ joint resolutions of disapproval made similar arguments, saying they support Israel’s right to defend itself but that the retaliatory offensive campaign has gone too far.
“We’ve seen Prime Minister Netanyahu repeatedly violate the terms of American security assistance, disregard U.S. priorities and ignore our requests,” Sen. Chris Van Hollen, Maryland Democrat, said. “A partnership should be a two-way street, not a one-way blank check.”
Mr. Van Hollen spoke this week with the father of an Israeli soldier who was taken hostage by Hamas and has yet to be released. The father said he supported the curb on U.S. weapon sales to Israel
“He has been very upset that Prime Minister Netanyahu has not prioritized the release of hostages and a cease-fire. And he thinks that the United States should be using all the leverage we have to get Netanyahu to make that a priority,” Mr. Van Hollen told The Washington Times.
Democrats who voted against the joint resolutions echoed Biden administration arguments that it was important for the U.S. to continue to stand by Israel, one of its longest allies, in a time of crisis.
“Our commitment to Israel’s security must be ironclad,” Sen. Jacky Rosen, Nevada Democrat, said. “Restricting much-needed arms to Israel because you don’t agree with everything the current government is doing will leave our allies vulnerable to future terror.”
Sen. John Fetterman, Pennsylvania Democrat, dismissed Mr. Sanders’ effort to block U.S. weapon sales to Israel as “performance art,” describing his position before the votes were taken as a “big no.”
Mr. Thune, who will serve as Senate majority leader in the next Congress, said things will change when Republicans take control of the Senate and the White House next year.
“To our allies in Israel and to the Jewish people around the world: reinforcements are on the way,” he said, promising legislation supporting Israel will be “a top priority in the next Congress.”
• Lindsey McPherson can be reached at lmcpherson@washingtontimes.com.
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