WASHINGTON (AP) — Sen. Bernie Sanders is preparing several resolutions that would stop more than $20 billion in U.S. arms sales to Israel, a longshot effort but the most substantive pushback yet from Congress over the devastation in Gaza ahead of the first year anniversary of the Israel-Hamas war.
In a letter to Senate colleagues on Wednesday, Sanders said the U.S. cannot be “complicit in this humanitarian disaster.” The action would force an eventual vote to block the arms sales to Israel, though majority passage is highly unlikely.
“Much of this carnage in Gaza has been carried out with U.S.-provided military equipment,” Sanders, I-Vt., wrote.
As the war grinds toward a second year, and with the outcome of President Joe Biden’s efforts to broker a cease-fire deal and hostage release uncertain, the resolutions from Sanders would seek to reign in Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s assault on Gaza. The war has killed some 41,000 people in Gaza after the surprise Oct. 7 Hamas-led attack that killed about 1,200 people in Israel, and abducted 250 others, with militants still holding around 100 hostages.
While it’s doubtful the politically split Senate would pass the measures, the move is designed to send a message to the Netanyahu regime that its war effort is eroding the U.S.'s longtime bipartisan support for Israel. Sanders said he is working with other colleagues on the measures.
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Under the Senate rules, once Sanders introduces the resolutions next week, he can force a vote almost instantly for consideration. The measures are being proposed as a joint resolution of disapproval of the arms sales, which is a mechanism that allows congressional oversight of foreign affairs.
Sanders said he would have some backing for his proposal. But it is not expected to have support from a majority, 51 votes, in the Senate to pass.
In the House, blocking the Israeli arms sales would face even tougher odds, where Republicans hold the majority, and have largely sided with Netanyahu’s approach to the war with Hamas.
This is some really fucked up, perverse gatekeeping on your part.
I don't know what kind of magical internet credit you think I need to have to ask questions here.
I really hope that that kind of thinking is not representative here.
I actually liked your first comment but this makes me really fucking sad.
The absolutely most bizarre thing about this interaction is you over-reading into my comment about Trump supporters to claim that I'm parading as a self-superior acting liberal when you're trying to shit-lord over me about socialism and that anyone is an idiot for being naive enough to vote.
I don't think you're an idiot or naive. If you're voting i think youre supporting genocide.
I don't see how that's a mischaraterization. And yes obviously i think your a liberal, you are. You're a genocide supporter.
You can stop being a liberal and not support genocide. If I'm gatekeeping then yes that is the line. Are you choosing to support genocide and voting? If the answer is yes, you are on the wrong side of the gate
You say you liked my first post. My second post and this one are exactly the same. That's why we think Bernie should go away now. We don't want or need to collaborate with genocide supporters