Senators Block $658M Arms Sale to Israel

0:00On March 19th, Senator Bernie Sanders of Vermont, along with Sen. Chris Van Hollen of Maryland, Jeff Murkley of Oregon, and Peter Welch of, Vermont, has introduced measures to block about $658 million in proposed United States arms sales to Israel. These resolutions target shipments of tens of thousands of bombs, coming as the conflict in Gaza, drags on alongside rising tensions with groups in, Lebanon and Iran. Sanders called out Israel's leadership for what he sees as a harmful military push, saying more American weapons would fuel the fighting. Under Senate rules, the Foreign Relations Committee has five days to respond, or the sponsors can push for a full floor vote, putting Democrats in a tough spot over their stance on Israel. Sanders has long pushed back against some arms deals to Israel during flare-ups like this one since the October 7th of the tax, while backing aid to Ukraine against Russia, highlighting splits in foreign policy views that this vote could spotlight even more.