The U.S. Senate on Wednesday overwhelmingly rejected three resolutions aimed at stopping certain U.S. arms transfers to Israel, despite concerns from progressive lawmakers over its ongoing genocidal war on Gaza.
All of the votes in favor came from the Democratic caucus while "no" votes came from both Democrats and Republicans, underscoring the divide within President Biden's Democratic party over policy toward Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's government.
Seventy-nine of the 100 senators voted against advancing a resolution that would have blocked sales of tank rounds to Israel, while 18 approved it and one voted present. Seventy-eight opposed a second measure, which would have stopped the shipment of mortar rounds, while 19 supported it and one voted present.
And 80 voted against a third measure that would have stopped shipments of joint direct attack munitions (JDAMS) kits, with 17 in favor and one voting present. The kits, which convert a standard unguided bomb using fins and a GPS guidance system into a guided weapon, are made by Boeing.
The "resolutions of disapproval" were filed by Sen. Bernie Sanders, a progressive independent who caucuses with Democrats and co-sponsored by a handful of Democrats who also have been critics of the rampant killing of Palestinian civilians in the war.
A decadeslong tradition of strong bipartisan support for Israel in Congress meant the resolutions were never likely to pass but backers hoped significant support in the Senate would encourage Israel's government and Biden's administration to do more to protect Palestinian civilians.
Sanders had filed a total of six resolutions, covering some $20 billion in weapons for Israel, but brought up only three for votes this week.
The Biden administration opposed the resolutions. In a list of 11 talking points sent to Democratic senators, it said, among other things, that providing military equipment to Israel is an investment in Israel's long-term security and that the administration is "working constantly" to improve conditions in Gaza.
Humanitarian catastrophe
Israel's genocidal war in the Palestinian enclave has killed more than 43,922 people, mostly women and children, according to Gaza health officials. Most of Gaza's population of 2.3 million has also been displaced and the enclave is at risk of famine, more than a year into war.
Sanders said the military aid to Israel violates U.S. law barring weapons sales to human rights abusers, noting the many deaths of children and older Palestinians and accusing Israel of blocking aid shipments.
"It is time to tell the Netanyahu government that they cannot use U.S. taxpayer dollars and American weapons in violation of U.S. and international law and our moral values," Sanders said in a Senate speech before the vote.
Opponents said the timing of the resolutions was inappropriate as Israel faces threats from Palestinian resistance groups like Hamas and Hezbollah, as well as Iran.
"Israel is surrounded by enemies dedicated to its annihilation," the Senate's Democratic majority leader, Chuck Schumer, said in a Senate speech before the votes.
But it could have been the last chance to stop any weapons sales before Republican President-elect Donald Trump takes office in January.
Many U.S. Muslims voted against Trump's Democratic opponent, Vice President Kamala Harris, in this month's presidential election, citing the administration's support for Israel. But Trump in his first term strongly supported the conservative Netanyahu's government.
Israel claims it has been working to address humanitarian needs and the main problem with aid deliveries was U.N. distribution challenges. Its embassy in Washington did not respond this week to a request for comment on Sanders' resolutions.
Biden, whose term ends in January, has strongly backed Israel since the Hamas incursion in October 2023 caused 1,200 deaths and took 250 hostages, according to Israeli tallies.
The Biden administration last month told Israel it had 30 days to improve the flow of aid to Gaza or risk consequences to U.S. military assistance.
After that period, Washington said on Nov. 12 that it concluded that Israel had made progress and was not currently impeding aid to Gaza, a claim dismissed by many aid groups.
U.S. law gives Congress the right to stop major foreign weapons sales by passing resolutions of disapproval. Although no such resolution has both passed Congress and survived a presidential veto, the law requires the Senate to vote if a resolution is filed. Such resolutions have at times led to angry debates embarrassing to past presidents.