| Bernie Sanders |
The US Senate on Wednesday rejected efforts to halt new arms sales to Israel, even as more Democrats than before backed measures challenging such transfers, as per reports.
The resolutions sought to block the sale of 1,000-pound bombs and armoured bulldozers intended for Israel, amid mounting criticism over the ongoing war involving Iran and Israel’s military actions in Gaza and Lebanon, The New York Times reported.
The initiative was led by Senator Bernie Sanders, an Independent senator, who works with Democrats and has repeatedly opposed unconditional American military aid to Israel. While similar attempts in the past have failed with limited Democratic backing, this time the measures drew significantly broader support from within the party.
A total of 36 Democratic senators voted to advance a resolution aimed at stopping the bomb sale, while 40 Democrats supported a separate measure to prevent the transfer of armored bulldozers, as per reports.
The bulldozers have reportedly drawn scrutiny because of their reported use in demolishing large residential areas in conflict zones.
Republican senators voted overwhelmingly against both measures, ensuring their defeat.
Under US law, Congress can block arms sales proposed by the administration, but only if both chambers approve disapproval resolutions and either the president signs them or lawmakers override a veto with a supermajority.
Similar story in March
Earlier, Sanders was the only non-Republican to vote against a $111 billion security package for Ukraine and Israel in March. The legislation was defeated 49-51.
“I do not believe that we should give the right-wing extremist Netanyahu government an additional $10.1 billion dollars with no strings attached to continue their inhumane war against the Palestinian people,” Sanders had said about his no-vote.
Although an Independent, Sanders has been an appendage of the Democratic party, working and voting with it mostly and he ran twice for the party’s nomination for president.
He also leads the Democratic party left-leaning progressive wing that has called for a ceasefire in Gaza and more attaching conditions to the part of the security package meant for Israel.
Trump faces heat on Iran war
Meanwhile, Senate Democrats on Wednesday had escalated pressure on Trump over the conflict with Iran, announcing plans to force repeated votes to end what they called an “illegal war of choice”, as Republicans defended the administration’s strategy and actions.
Senate Minority Leader Charles Schumer said Democrats would “force that choice week after week after week”, accusing Republicans of creating “chaos abroad” and “chaos here” by backing the president and blocking funding measures.
Democratic senators sharply criticised the war’s impact. Senator Tammy Baldwin said the conflict “has not made us any safer” and “has simply gone off the rails”.
She cited casualties and rising costs, noting “13 American service members are dead” and that “gas prices have surged, more than a dollar per gallon up”.
(with inputs from syndicated feed)
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