Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vermont) is planning to force a vote on legislation to block over $650 million in arms sales to Israel, as the country continues military actions in the Middle East, including a joint war with the U.S. On Iran.
Congressional Challenge to Arms Sales
The joint resolutions of disapproval, first reported by Politico, aim to halt the sale of 5,000 “defense articles” related to 250-pound bombs, 10,000 500-pound bombs, and 12,000 1,000-pound bombs, totaling $659 million in value.
These resolutions address sales announced by the Trump administration earlier this month, approximately one week after the start of the U.S. And Israel’s war on Iran. The Trump administration bypassed Congress for the sale after the State Department, citing an “emergency,” determined it necessary to expedite the process.
Joint resolutions of disapproval require only a simple majority vote to pass in the Senate. Sanders stated, “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 need to do right now is to provide 22,000 new bombs to the Netanyahu government.” He added, “No more weapons to support an illegal war.”
Bipartisan Support and Previous Attempts
The resolutions are cosponsored by Senators Chris Van Hollen (D-Maryland), Jeff Merkley (D-Oregon), and Peter Welch (D-Vermont). Van Hollen stated that Trump “disregarded Congressional authority to declare this war” and is now “bypassing Congress” with this arms sale.
The Trump administration previously bypassed Congress in January to send Israel over $6.5 billion in weapons and military equipment while simultaneously issuing threats to attack Iran and engaging in negotiations with Iranian officials.
Sanders’s previous attempt to block arms sales to Israel last July received only 24 votes for a resolution to stop munitions sales and 27 votes against the transfer of assault rifles. These resolutions received 17 and 16 Democratic “no” votes respectively, including from Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-New York).
Escalating Conflict and Rising Casualties
This latest push for a vote comes amid ongoing conflict. Israeli forces are reportedly continuing their actions in Gaza, where at least 630 Palestinians have been killed since a ceasefire began last October. The death toll in Lebanon from Israeli escalation since March 2nd has surpassed 1,000 people. The U.S. And Israel have reportedly killed at least 1,400 people in Iran, with human rights group HRANA assessing that 1,369 of those killed were civilians. The war on Iran is causing economic disruption, with gas and other prices spiking worldwide.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a joint resolution of disapproval?
A joint resolution of disapproval can be brought as a privileged motion on the floor after a period of five or 10 days after introduction in the Senate and only needs a simple majority vote to pass.
How much in arms sales is being challenged?
The legislation seeks to block over $650 million in arms sales to Israel, specifically 5,000 250-pound bombs, 10,000 500-pound bombs, and 12,000 1,000-pound bombs.
Who is sponsoring this legislation?
Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vermont) is the primary sponsor, with cosponsors including Senators Chris Van Hollen (D-Maryland), Jeff Merkley (D-Oregon), and Peter Welch (D-Vermont).
As Congress considers this resolution, what impact might a successful vote have on the ongoing conflicts in the Middle East?
