A proposed arms embargo against Israel by Senator Bernie Sanders failed in the Senate on Thursday. The vote saw only 15 Democrats supporting the measure, a decrease from the 19 votes received during a similar proposal last November.
Sanders has been a strong critic of the Israeli government. While he condemned the horrific Hamas attack on October 7, 2023, he also advocated for an arms embargo that would limit Israel’s ability to defend itself. In November, he attempted to block arms sales to Israel with three proposals, but they were all rejected by the Senate.
This latest vote was particularly notable because the Senate is currently controlled by Republicans, which contributed to the defeat of Sanders’s proposals. Among the senators who had previously supported the embargo but changed their votes this time were Jon Ossoff and Raphael Warnock from Georgia, Jeanne Shaheen from New Hampshire, and Angus King from Maine, who caucuses with the Democrats.
Freshman Senator Andy Kim from New Jersey, who has been viewed as a more moderate Democrat, was one of the notable supporters of the embargo. He visited Israel earlier this year and has called for the release of hostages.
The other Democrats who voted in favor of blocking arms sales to Israel included Mazie Hirono, Ben Ray Luján, Chris Van Hollen, Jeff Merkley, Ed Markey, Tim Kaine, Elizabeth Warren, Martin Heinrich, Brian Schatz, Tina Smith, Dick Durbin, Peter Welch, and Chris Murphy.
This vote reflects the ongoing debate in the U.S. Congress regarding military support for Israel, especially in light of the recent conflict. As discussions continue, the dynamics within the Senate may shift further, impacting future proposals related to arms sales and foreign policy.