The result was expected, but the vote sent a signal that opposing military aid to a longstanding ally is no longer a fringe position in the Democratic Party. More than a third of the Democratic senators voted to block arms to Israel a year after the Oct. 7 Hamas terrorist attack on the Jewish state.
Wednesday’s vote was the first of its kind in Congress and the only legislative remedy available to senators opposed to the Biden administration’s efforts to sell $20 billion in military aid to Israel over concerns its counterattack has gone too far and created a humanitarian crisis in Gaza.
Sens. Bernie Sanders (I-VT), Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Peter Welch (D-VT), and Sen. Brian Schatz (D-HI) sponsored a trio of resolutions, which were privileged, allowing them to force the votes without the consent of Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY).
The resolutions were to block the sale of 120-millimeter mortar rounds, joint direct attack munitions (JDAMs) also known as bomb guidance kits, and the sale of tank rounds.
The first resolution, S.J. Res. 111, to block the sale of tank rounds failed 18-79, with the majority of Democrats joining all Republicans in voting no. Sen. Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) voted present.
Eighteen Democrats voted in support, including the sponsors of the resolutions and Sens. Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), Tim Kaine (D-VA), Angus King (I-ME), Martin Heinrich (D-NM), Jon Ossoff (D-GA), Mazie Hirono (D-HI), Ed Markey (D-MA), Tina Smith (D-MN), Dick Durbin (D-IL), Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Ben Ray Lujan (D-NM), Raphael Warnock (D-GA), and Chris Murphy (D-CT).
Sen. Chris Murphy brings number to 18 https://t.co/bU73PhLght
— Samantha-Jo Roth (@SamanthaJoRoth) November 21, 2024
The second resolution, S.J. Res 113, which would block the sale of high-explosive mortar rounds to Israel failed 19 to 78. Sen. George Helmy (D-NJ) joined with the previous 18 Democrats voting in support of the bill. Baldwin (D-WI) voted present.
The third resolution, S.J. Res 115, which would have blocked the sale of the JDAMS to Israel failed 17-80.
The vote came as a show of force from the Democratic Party’s left flank as divisions over U.S. support of Israel have been simmering over the last 13 months.
Sanders, an independent who caucuses with Democrats, said he thought it was time to bring the resolutions to the floor, citing what he called Israel’s violation of international law to adequately provide aid amid the war against Hamas. The Biden administration in October called on Israel to improve the flow of aid to Gaza in 30 days or risk military aid being withheld. After that time, the United States concluded that Israel was making progress and did not impede assistance.
Sanders and other Democratic senators have expressed concerns about the growing number of civilian casualties in Gaza. The war has led to the deaths of over 43,000 Palestinians, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry, which is run by Hamas and does not distinguish militants from civilians.
“From a moral perspective, we cannot turn a blind eye to one of the worst humanitarian disasters in the modern history of this world, a humanitarian disaster that we are significantly funding,” Sanders said on the floor of the Senate on Wednesday.
Ahead of the vote, Sen. Ben Cardin (D-MD), chairman of the Foreign Relations committee, delivered a passionate speech, criticizing the resolutions as “the wrong vehicle for expressing ourselves about the conflict that exists today.”
Schumer “strongly” opposed the resolutions, arguing the U.S. commitment to Israel “transcends” any one prime minister in a nod to the criticism he and other Democrats have of Benjamin Netanyahu.
“Israel is surrounded by enemies dedicated to its annihilation, from Hamas to Hezbollah to the Houthis to, most threateningly of all, Iran,” Schumer said ahead of the vote. “… Israel needs to protect itself, not just today, but also tomorrow and next year and beyond. It has been a cornerstone of American policy to give Israel the resources it needs to defend against its enemies. We should not stray from that policy today.”
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The White House and administration officials had lobbied senators to vote against the resolutions. Schumer has also privately pressed senators to reject the effort.
