Senate Blocks Sanders, Democrat Arms Embargo on Israel
The US Senate on Tuesday rejected two resolutions aimed at blocking arms sales to Israel, though a large majority of Democratic senators supported the measures, highlighting a growing divide within the party over US policy toward Israel.
The US Senate on Tuesday rejected two resolutions aimed at blocking arms sales to Israel, though a large majority of Democratic senators supported the measures, highlighting a growing divide within the party over US policy toward Israel.
The first resolution, introduced by Senator Bernie Sanders, sought to halt a $295 million sale of bulldozers. It received support from 40 of the Senate’s 47 Democrats but ultimately failed, with 59 senators voting against it, most of them Republicans.
A second resolution targeting a $152 million sale of 1,000-pound bombs also fell short. Thirty-six Democrats voted in favor of blocking the transfer, while 63 senators opposed the measure.
Despite their failure, the votes marked a significant increase in Democratic backing for efforts to restrict military aid to Israel. Similar initiatives led by Sanders in 2024 and 2025 were also rejected but drew far fewer Democratic supporters at the time.
Supporters of the resolutions argued that the weapons could be used in Israeli military operations in Gaza and Lebanon, while opponents maintained that the sales are part of longstanding US security cooperation with Israel.
The outcome reflects shifting dynamics within the Democratic Party, where criticism of Israel has become more prominent in recent years, particularly in the context of ongoing regional conflicts involving Iran, Hezbollah, and Hamas.
While the resolutions did not pass, the level of support they received signals a continued debate in Washington over the scope and conditions of US military assistance to Israel.