The effort of Sen. Bernie Sanders’ bid to block arms sales to Israel fails a Senate vote
The effort of Sen. Bernie Sanders, Vt., to block the sale of certain US weapons to Israel was overwhelmingly rejected by the US Senate on Wednesday evening.
Sanders’ joint resolution of disapproval, which was supported by Sen. Chris Van Hollen, D-Md.; Sen. Jeff Merkley, D-Ore.; and Sen. Peter Welch, D-Vt., aimed to stop the White House’s recent arms sales to the Israeli military. An attempt to ban the sale of tank rounds to Israel was voted down 79-18, and a measure aimed at banning the shipment of mortars was rejected 78-19.
Speaking on the Senate floor, Sanders said the Israeli government “is controlled not only by right-wing extremists, but by religious extremists.”
“It is time to tell the Netanyahu government that they cannot use American taxpayer dollars and American weapons in violation of American and international law and our moral standards even though they received $18 billion from American taxpayers last year,” Sanders said.
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Sen. Bernie Sanders, Vt., walks on the Senate floor to a news conference on banning arms sales to Israel at the U.S. Capitol Nov. 19, 2024, Washington, DC (Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images)
“And as one of the largest recipients in the history of US foreign aid, the Netanyahu government has ignored repeated requests from President Biden and the US government.”
The 83-year-old politician also criticized the living conditions in Gaza during his speech.
“Right now, there is sewage flowing in the streets of Gaza, and it is very difficult for the people there to get clean drinking water,” said Sanders. “One of the 12 universities in Gaza has been bombed… as have hundreds of schools. There has been no electricity in Gaza for 13 months.
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Sen. Bernie Sanders, Vt., speaks at a press conference along with senators Chris Van Hollen, D-Md.; Peter Welch, D-Vt.; and Jeff Merkley, D-Ore., on upcoming resolutions aimed at preventing the sale of certain offensive weapons to Israel in Washington, DC, Nov. 19, 2024. (Nathan Posner/Anadolu via Getty Images)
“As I have said many, many times, Israel had every right to respond to that horrific attack by Hamas like any other country,” Sanders concluded. “I don’t think there is anyone here in the United States Senate who disagrees with that. But Prime Minister Netanyahu’s government did not just fight Hamas. It fought an endless war with the Palestinian people.”
Without the vote, Sanders’ effort was completely unpopular. Earlier this week, Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., expressed support for the Vermont Independent’s proposal.
“The failure of the Biden administration to follow American law and stop arms exports is a major mistake that undermines America’s credibility around the world,” Warren said in a statement sent to The Guardian.
Sen. Bernie Sanders, Vt., at a press conference about the upcoming joint sanctions waivers aimed at blocking the sale of certain offensive weapons to Israel in Washington, DC, Nov. 19, 2024. (Nathan Posner/Anadolu via Getty Images)
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“If this administration does not agree, Congress must stand up and strengthen US law and hold the Netanyahu government to account with a joint resolution of disapproval.”
Fox News Digital’s Jessica Sonkin and Alec Schemmel contributed to this report.
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