Senate Democrats Vote Against Arms Sales to Israel Amid Iran Conflict

In a notable shift, a larger number of Senate Democrats opposed arms sales to Israel, protesting President Donald Trump’s military actions against Iran. This recent vote late Wednesday turned down two resolutions from Senator Bernie Sanders (I-Vermont), showing a change in stance among Democrats who had previously aligned with Republicans in backing Israel on similar resolutions.

Sanders’ proposals aimed to block nearly $500 million in armaments and related sales to Israel. One proposal focused on stopping the sale of Caterpillar bulldozers valued at about $295 million, while the other targeted the halt of 1,000-pound bombs totaling around $152 million.

Though Sanders lacked Republican backing, he framed the growing Democratic support as “progress.” He noted, “When we started this effort, there were only 11 votes. Now we have 40 people. This change reflects the position of the American people.”

This vote came in the wake of Israel’s aggressive actions in Lebanon, which had threatened a fragile ceasefire and ongoing peace talks regarding the situation in Iran.

The Democrats were not unanimous in supporting the resolutions. Forty voted to halt bulldozer sales, while 36 opposed bomb sales. For context, in a previous vote regarding arms sales to Israel, only 27 Democrats were in favor, and previously there were as few as 19 supportive votes.

Despite his criticisms of the ongoing conflict, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (New York) opted to vote against Sanders’ resolutions. Some lawmakers who previously voted in favor of arms sales changed their positions, asserting that while they still support Israel, their votes were a statement against the Iran war.

Senator Maggie Hassan (D-N.H.) remarked that her shift was “informed by President Trump and Prime Minister Netanyahu’s reckless decision to go to war.” She raised concerns about further funding for the war and, therefore, additional arms sales to Israel.

Moreover, the Democratic majority’s earlier backing to limit President Trump’s war powers in the Middle East, coupled with this vote, points to a developing stance that could influence future financial requests related to the Iran conflict, which could range from $50 billion to $200 billion. Republicans are also weighing their party’s policy on these requests as Democrats may have a significant voice in war funding decisions.

Senator Elissa Slotkin (D-Mich.) emphasized that the vote against “1,000-pound so-called ‘dumb bombs’ and military bulldozers” aimed to clarify the distinction between supporting Israel and endorsing war. “Being pro-Israel today is not just about supporting Prime Minister Netanyahu’s political or military policies; just as being pro-American should not be equated with loyalty to President Trump,” she stated.