Official U.S. Senate records and public announcements

Senate Votes 79-18 to Reject Sanders' Bid to Block $20B Offensive Arms Sale to Israel

Nov 20, 2024, 03:52 PM

The U.S. Senate has voted down resolutions introduced by Senator Bernie Sanders and supported by Senators Jeff Merkley, Peter Welch, and Chris Van Hollen to block approximately $20 billion in offensive arms sales to Israel. The proposed legislation aimed to halt the sale of weapons such as tank rounds, mortars, and bomb guidance kits amid concerns about Israel's military actions in Gaza and the humanitarian crisis facing Palestinian civilians. Sanders argued that the United States should not provide weaponry to countries that violate internationally recognized human rights or obstruct humanitarian aid. Despite support from advocacy groups like J Street, the resolutions were overwhelmingly defeated, with 79 senators voting against and 18 in favor. All Republican senators opposed the measures, which were considered historic in their challenge to U.S. arms sales to Israel. The Biden administration had urged senators to reject the resolutions, and pro-Israel groups like AIPAC opposed them.