The Senate has rejected a pair of resolutions from Senator Bernie Sanders (I-VT) aimed at blocking weapon sales to Israel.
The final votes were 15-82 and 15-83.
Sanders’s resolutions of disapproval were aimed at halting a $8.56 billion sale of weapons and munitions to Israel.
“This war has been conducted almost entirely with American weapons and some $18 billion in U.S. taxpayer dollars,” said Sanders in a statement days before the vote. “Israel has dropped U.S.-provided 2,000-pound bombs into crowded neighborhoods, killing hundreds of civilians to take out a handful of Hamas fighters, and made little effort to distinguish between civilians and combatants. These actions are immoral and illegal. The latest Trump sales provide almost $8.8 billion more in U.S. bombs and other munitions, including more than 35,000 massive 2,000-pound bombs.”
“The United States must not continue to supply endless amounts of military aid and weaponry to the Netanyahu government,” he continued. “It is particularly unconscionable while President Trump and Israeli officials openly talk of forcibly displacing millions of people from Gaza to make way for what Trump calls a ‘Riviera.’ There is a name for such a policy — ethnic cleansing — and it’s a war crime.”
Beyond Sanders, Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL), Martin Heinrich (D-NM), Mazie Hirono (D-HI), Ben Ray Luján (D-NM), Tim Kaine (D-VA), Andy Kim (D-NJ), Ed Markey (D-MA), Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Chris Murphy (D-CT), Brian Schatz (D-HI), Tina Smith (D-MN), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) and Peter Welch (D-MA) all backed the resolutions.
Sanders initiated a similar effort last November, which yielded more votes. Four Senators, including Georgia Senator Jon Ossoff (D-GA), flipped their vote from YEA to NAY.
“No foreign government, no matter how close an ally, gets everything it wants, whenever it wants, to use however it wants,” said Ossoff in a floor speech at the time.
Ossoff was heavily criticized by pro-Israel groups for the vote and faces a reelection campaign next year.
House bill
Earlier this week, Representatives Pramila Jayapal (D-WA) and Rashida Tlaib (D-MI) introduced companion legislation in the House.
“Continuing to provide the Israeli government with offensive weapons, even as they violate both international and U.S. laws, is unacceptable and makes us complicit in this violence and destruction,” said Jayapal in a statement. “We must return to a negotiated ceasefire that allows for humanitarian aid to enter Gaza, the release of the remaining hostages, and lasting security in the region.”
With Netanyahu violating the ceasefire in Gaza and resuming the genocidal bombing campaign, we need to save lives and stop the killing,” tweeted Tlaib.
The resolutions come amid renewed Israeli attacks on Gaza after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu broke the ceasefire last month. The Ministry of Health in Gaza says that more than 112 Palestinians have been killed by air strikes in the past day, with at least 70 of those deaths occurring in Gaza City.
Local health officials say more than 50,000 Palestinians have been killed by Israel since the attacks began in October 2023, although the actual death toll is undoubtedly much higher.
This weekend thousands of people are expected to converge in Washington D.C. to protest U.S. support for the ongoing genocide and the Trump administration’s unconstitutional crackdown on the Palestine movement.
“Everyday we are confronted with more atrocities committed by Netanyahu and Trump. Dozens of people are being killed each day by Israeli airstrikes across Gaza, including aid workers, journalists, and children. For the people of Gaza, for the right to protest, it is imperative that we take to the streets on April 5 to show that we will not be frightened into submission,” said the Palestinian Youth Movement’s Taher Dahleh in a statement promoting the march.
I wonder how many of those voting with Bernie would still vote yes if it were close? The old trick of virtue signalling to appease an angry constituency when there is no chance of actually accomplishing anything. Since Bernie has managed to destroy his credibility across the political spectrum, shouldn’t we be looking for people who really know how to talk to, and organize, among the Trump supporters who really know nothing about Israel except what their leadership is telling them.
How will the Washington demonstration make a difference if it cannot break through the Demoblican consensus? How many there will be first time attendees to such an event? As opposed to being a reunion of self-congratulatory virtue signallers? I hope it does mobilize new attendees and different constituencies, including Trump voters who thought he was opposed to forever wars around the world should now be angry that neocon hawks like Mike Waltz are running the same show as Blinken under Biden.
Why are we trying to get others to stop this on our behalf, when we have legal standing to go to court and stop this ourselves?
The Annotated Constitution ArtIII.S2.C1.6.5 Taxpayer Standing explains that Flast v. Cohen observed that taxpayers have legal standing to stop Congress from violating the Establishment Clause. We don’t need Bernie Sanders to find enough votes to stop $8 billion of our taxpaper dollars being sent to the Jewish Nation State. It’s not legal for Congress to pass appropriations to establish Jewish States with Rabbinical religous organs and tests that violate the rights of Palestinian Christisns, Muslims, Jews, or Humanists in the first place.
The President has no authority to violate the 1st Amendment. He might have immunity, for criminal actions taken in accordance with his constitutional duties, but that has nothing to do with violation of criminal statutes that list crimes committed under color of law, that are always illegal. In this case, you can’t kidnap and deport aliens or citizens here in the USA because you don’t like their religious beliefs. We can file a civil class-action lawsuit to stop Congress from funding that. That wouldn’t be stayed and is directed at Congressional appropritations.
Small correction: Peter Welch is the junior senator from Vermont, not Massachusetts.