Bernie Sanders' Fourth Attempt to Block US Arms Transfers to Israel Defeated in Senate
Independent Senator Bernie Sanders led a failed effort on Wednesday to halt the sale of bombs and bulldozers to Israel, marking his fourth unsuccessful attempt to cut off military aid through Senate resolutions. Despite the defeat, the vote revealed a significant and growing appetite among Democratic senators to impose limits on US weapons transfers to the longstanding ally.
Voting Results Show Democratic Shift
In Wednesday's session, 40 senators backed a resolution that would have prevented a $295 million sale of bulldozers, while 36 members voted for a second resolution to halt a $151.8 million sale of 12,000 1,000lb bombs to Israel's military. This represents a notable increase from previous votes; last April, only 15 of the caucus's 47 members supported similar measures, and in July, 27 members backed another batch of resolutions.
"That shift reflects where the American people are," Sanders said in a statement late Wednesday. "Americans, whether they are Democrats, Republicans or independents, want to see our tax money invested in improving lives here at home – not used to kill innocent women and children in the Middle East and put American troops in harm's way as part of Netanyahu's illegal wars of expansion."
Growing Democratic Discontent with Israeli Policies
The rising tally reflects shifting sentiment toward Israel among Senate Democrats, who are grappling with souring attitudes among their voters regarding Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's conduct in the invasions of Gaza and southern Lebanon, as well as his collaboration with former President Donald Trump in the conflict with Iran.
California Senators Adam Schiff and Alex Padilla, who previously voted against such measures, supported the resolutions this time. In a joint statement, they said: "Being a stalwart friend of Israel, however, does not mean agreeing with all decisions of the Israeli Government or Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, just like being a patriot of the United States does not require unquestioning agreement with the policy decisions of President Donald Trump and his administration."
Pressure from Progressive Groups and Public Opinion
Speaking before the vote, Sanders framed the effort as an opportunity for Congress to "stand up to" the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (Aipac), which has spent tens of millions influencing races ahead of the 2024 US elections. He cited a recent Pew Research Center survey finding that 80% of Democrats and 41% of Republicans view Israel negatively.
"Maybe, just maybe, the Senate should start listening to their constituents and not just to the wealthy individuals who fund Aipac," Sanders continued. "And that is what today's vote is all about."
Progressive groups have intensified pressure on Democrats to back the resolutions. On Monday, dozens were arrested at a protest outside the New York City offices of Senators Kirsten Gillibrand and Chuck Schumer, urging them to vote in favor. Both senators ultimately opposed the measures, consistent with their previous votes.
Legal and Moral Concerns Over Weapons Sales
A coalition of progressive groups, including Indivisible, MoveOn, J Street, and Jewish Voice for Peace, sent senators a letter urging support for halting weapons sales. They described the sale of 1,000lb bombs as raising "urgent legal and moral concerns," noting their use in densely populated areas with significant civilian casualties. The bulldozers, they argued, have been used in operations involving large-scale demolition of homes and infrastructure, contributing to forced displacement.
Broader Context and Republican Opposition
All of Sanders' resolutions have been rejected by the Senate's Republican majority and many Democrats. In a separate vote on Wednesday, Senate Democrats forced a vote on a war powers resolution to prevent Trump from continuing hostilities against Iran, but it was voted down by Republicans.
Democratic Senator Chris Coons of Delaware, who voted against Sanders' effort, explained in a statement: "While I supported the war powers resolution to end president Trump's war of choice with Iran, I could not abandon our steadfast ally, Israel, and the Americans who live within its borders. My votes should be taken neither as an endorsement of the actions of the Netanyahu government nor as an abandonment of the state of Israel, the Jewish people, or the US-Israel relationship."
House Progressives Advocate for Broader Cuts
In the House of Representatives, sentiment has built among some progressive lawmakers for cutting off all military aid to Israel, including for defensive weapons like the Iron Dome missile shield. Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez said earlier this month she would "not support Congress sending more taxpayer dollars and military aid to a government that consistently ignores international law and US law." Fellow progressive Ro Khanna endorsed this approach, suggesting Israel could purchase such systems with its own funds.
