Bernie Sanders' Fourth Attempt to Block US Weapons to Israel Fails in Senate
Senator Bernie Sanders led a failed effort on Wednesday to block 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 shift in Democratic sentiment, with 40 senators supporting a resolution to prevent a $295 million bulldozer sale and 36 backing another to halt a $151.8 million sale of 12,000 1,000lb bombs.
Growing Democratic Support for Limits on Military Aid
The rising tally reflects a changing attitude among Senate Democrats, who are responding to voter concerns over Benjamin Netanyahu's actions in Gaza and southern Lebanon, as well as his collaboration with Donald Trump in the conflict with Iran. In April, only 15 of the caucus's 47 members supported similar measures, but by July, that number had grown to 27.
"That shift reflects where the American people are," Sanders said in a statement. "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."
Senators Speak Out on the Vote
California senators Adam Schiff and Alex Padilla, who previously voted against such measures, supported Sanders' resolutions this time. In a joint statement, they emphasized that "being a stalwart friend of Israel does not mean agreeing with all decisions of the Israeli Government."
Before the vote, Sanders framed the effort as a challenge to the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (Aipac), which has spent tens of millions influencing elections. "Maybe, just maybe, the Senate should start listening to their constituents and not just to the wealthy individuals who fund Aipac," he argued, citing a Pew Research Center survey showing 80% of Democrats and 41% of Republicans view Israel negatively.
Progressive Pressure and Broader Context
In the House of Representatives, progressive lawmakers like Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Ro Khanna have advocated for cutting off all military aid to Israel, including defensive weapons like the Iron Dome. Meanwhile, groups such as Indivisible, MoveOn, J Street, and Jewish Voice for Peace urged senators to support halting weapons sales, citing "urgent legal and moral concerns" over civilian casualties.
Protests outside the New York City offices of senators Kirsten Gillibrand and Chuck Schumer highlighted public pressure, though both ultimately opposed the resolutions. Separately, 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 Divisions and Future Implications
Democratic senator Chris Coons of Delaware, who voted against Sanders' effort, explained his stance: "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." He supported the war powers resolution on Iran but could not "abandon our steadfast ally, Israel."
The failed resolutions underscore ongoing divisions within the Democratic Party over US foreign policy, with Sanders' efforts highlighting a growing appetite to impose limits on weapons transfers to Israel. As sentiment shifts among voters and lawmakers, this issue is likely to remain a focal point in upcoming elections and legislative debates.
