The U.S. Senate rejected a pair of resolutions proposed by Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) that would halt arms sales to Israel, an effort that more than three dozen Senate Democrats backed.
Sen. Sanders proposed one resolution that sought to block a $295 million sale of bulldozers, which the Democratic Socialist argued would be used to demolish residences in the West Bank, Gaza, and Lebanon, according to The Times of Israel.
The second resolution aimed to halt a $152 million sale of 1,000-pound bombs to the Israel Defense Forces (IDF). Explosive inventory that Sen. Sanders claimed would be used in both Gaza and Lebanon.
Both resolutions were rejected by all Senate Republicans, with votes of 40-59 and 36-63, respectively.
“It’s clear that Democrats are beginning to listen to the average American who is sick and tired of spending billions of dollars to support Netanyahu’s horrific wars when people in this country can’t afford housing or health care,” Sen. Sanders said following the results, referencing the support from 40 out of 47 Senate Democrats – including two independents who caucus with the Democrats – on one resolution and the three dozen in the other.
Sen. Sanders has previously pressed similar resolutions in both 2024 and 2025. These resolutions were also rejected.
According to The Associated Press (AP), the number of Democrats who voted alongside Sen. Sanders “has more than doubled in less than two years” amid Israeli military campaigns in the West Bank, Tehran, and Lebanon.
The shift in votes has signaled an increase in dissent within the Democratic Party against the Israeli Likud party led by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
The AP reported that among the Democrats who voted against the resolutions proposed by Sen. Sanders were Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer and Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand.
By a floor vote count of 47-52, Senate Democrats also failed to pass a resolution aimed at stopping the war in Iran.
