WASHINGTON – Senator Bernie Sanders (I-Vermont) is preparing to force a vote on legislation aimed at blocking over $658.8 million in arms sales to Israel, a move coming as the conflict in the Middle East expands and civilian casualties mount. The planned vote represents a renewed effort by Sanders to scrutinize U.S. Military aid to Israel, particularly in light of the ongoing war with Iran and sustained bombardments of Lebanon.
The senator’s push centers on three joint resolutions of disapproval, first reported by Politico, that seek to halt the sale of 5,000 250-pound bombs, 10,000 500-pound bombs, and 12,000 1,000-pound bombs. Sanders argues that providing these weapons would exacerbate the conflict and contribute to further civilian harm. The move underscores growing concerns within Congress regarding the scale and scope of U.S. Involvement in the region’s escalating crises.
The Trump administration approved these arms sales earlier this month, reportedly invoking an “emergency” provision to bypass the usual congressional review process, according to Reuters. This decision, Sanders and his allies contend, disregarded Congressional authority and accelerated the flow of weaponry into a volatile situation.
Bypassing Congress and Escalating Tensions
The administration’s decision to bypass Congress has drawn sharp criticism from Sanders and other lawmakers who argue it undermines the legislative branch’s oversight role in foreign policy. The emergency provision, intended for urgent and limited circumstances, is being challenged as an inappropriate justification for a large-scale arms transfer during an active and expanding war. This isn’t the first time the Trump administration has circumvented Congress regarding arms sales to Israel; in January, over $6.5 billion in weapons and military equipment were sent to Israel without full congressional review, as the New York Times reported.
“Trump not only disregarded Congressional authority to declare this war, he’s now bypassing Congress by invoking an emergency authority to supply additional bombs to this war, a crisis of his own making,” said Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-Maryland) in a statement. “Congress must use all the tools at our disposal to finish Trump’s war, including stopping the transfer of over $658 million of taxpayer-funded bombs to the Netanyahu government.”
Previous Attempts and Potential Outcomes
Sanders has previously attempted to block arms sales to Israel, but those efforts have faced significant opposition. His most recent attempt, last July, garnered only 24 votes for a resolution to halt munitions sales and 27 votes against the transfer of assault rifles. These resolutions received 17 and 16 “no” votes from Democrats, including Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-New York), demonstrating the challenges Sanders faces in building a broad coalition to oppose these sales.
Joint resolutions of disapproval require a simple majority to pass the Senate. The outcome of this vote remains uncertain, but Sanders is hoping to capitalize on growing concerns about civilian casualties and the escalating conflict to sway more senators to his side. The resolutions are also cosponsored by Senators Jeff Merkley (D-Oregon) and Peter Welch (D-Vermont).
Humanitarian Impact and Regional Instability
The push to block these arms sales comes amid a worsening humanitarian crisis in the region. Israeli forces have reportedly killed at least 630 Palestinians since a ceasefire began last October, according to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA). The death toll in Lebanon has surpassed 1,000 since March 2, and at least 1,400 people have been killed in Iran, according to reports from the health ministry and the human rights group HRANA. The war on Iran, in particular, is causing widespread economic disruption, with rising gas prices and instability affecting economies worldwide.
“Given the horrific destruction that Israel’s extremist government has wrought on Gaza, Iran and Lebanon, the last thing in the world that American taxpayers demand to do right now is to provide 22,000 new bombs to the Netanyahu government,” Sanders said in a statement released by his office. “No more weapons to support an illegal war.”
What’s Next
Sanders is expected to bring the joint resolutions of disapproval to the Senate floor in the coming days, initiating a debate and vote on the proposed arms sales. The timing of the vote will depend on procedural rules and negotiations within the Senate. The outcome of this vote will likely signal the extent to which Congress is willing to challenge the executive branch’s foreign policy decisions and address concerns about the humanitarian impact of the ongoing conflicts in the Middle East. The Senate is scheduled to debate the resolutions next week, with a vote anticipated by the end of March.
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