Introduction
In a stark illustration of Washington’s enduring bipartisan support for Israel, the U.S. Senate recently voted down three joint resolutions of disapproval (JRDs) introduced by independent Senator Bernie Sanders of Vermont. Each resolution aimed to block a proposed $20 billion arms sale to Israel—an agreement that critics contend deepens the humanitarian crisis in Gaza and undermines U.S. credibility on human rights. Despite impassioned appeals from Sanders and a growing chorus of progressive lawmakers, the resolutions were defeated by overwhelming margins, underscoring the deep divisions within the Democratic Party and the inertia that continues to define U.S. foreign policy in the Middle East.
This article provides a detailed, professional analysis of the Senate’s historic votes: the origins and substance of Sanders’s resolutions, the arguments for and against the arms sale, the political and moral implications of the vote, and what this moment portends for the future of American engagement in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
1. Background: The Arms Sale and Its Context
1.1 The October 2023 Hamas Attack and Its Aftermath
On October 7, 2023, Hamas launched a surprise assault on southern Israel, resulting in the deaths of over 1,200 Israeli civilians and the abduction of more than 200 hostages. The unprecedented nature of the attack galvanized national unity in Israel and prompted sweeping military retaliation in Gaza. By mid-2024, Israeli air and ground operations had claimed the lives of more than 43,000 Palestinians, according to the Gaza Health Ministry, and rendered millions food-insecure amid an acute blockade that restricted the flow of essential goods into the territory.
1.2 U.S.–Israel Security Cooperation
Since the 1970s, the United States has provided Israel with advanced weaponry, intelligence sharing, and diplomatic backing as cornerstones of a strategic alliance in the Middle East. Annual military aid to Israel currently stands at roughly $3.8 billion—most of it guaranteed through a 10-year memorandum of understanding signed in 2016. Planned supplemental arms sales, such as the $20 billion deal under Senate review, typically include precision-guided munitions, armored vehicles, and logistical support equipment designed to sustain Israel’s qualitative military edge.
2. Senator Sanders’s Joint Resolutions of Disapproval
2.1 Legislative Authority under the Arms Export Control Act
Under Section 36 of the Arms Export Control Act (AECA), Congress may pass a joint resolution of disapproval to block an arms sale certified by the executive branch. If both chambers approve such a resolution and it survives a presidential veto, the sale is halted.
2.2 Overview of the Three Resolutions
In September 2023, Senator Sanders introduced three distinct JRDs—S.J. Res. 111, S.J. Res. 112, and S.J. Res. 113—each targeting different components of the proposed $20 billion package:
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S.J. Res. 111: Blocked the sale of 3,000 MK-82 bomb guidance kits and related support equipment.
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S.J. Res. 112: Sought to prevent the transfer of 5,000 155 mm artillery shells and precision-guided projectiles.
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S.J. Res. 113: Aimed to stop the sale of 500 anti-armor TOW missile systems and ancillary training services.
Collectively, these resolutions would have undermined Israel’s ability to sustain high-intensity operations in Gaza and constrained its capacity to conduct precision strikes.
3. The Senate Debate: Key Arguments
3.1 Senator Sanders’s Humanitarian Case
In floor speeches and public statements, Sanders emphasized the disproportionate impact of U.S.-supplied weaponry on Gaza’s civilian population:
“We cannot continue to ignore the humanitarian catastrophe unfolding in Gaza—where children are dying of hunger, families are buried under rubble, and humanitarian aid is blocked at every checkpoint. By supplying weapons used in indiscriminate bombardments, we are complicit in these atrocities.”
Sanders cited reports from the United Nations and Human Rights Watch documenting possible violations of international humanitarian law. He argued that the AECA’s “emergency” exemptions should not bypass congressional scrutiny when the recipient has been credibly accused of war crimes.
3.2 Bipartisan Defense of the Sale
Opponents of the resolutions—including Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) and Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY)—warned that blocking the sale would:
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Undermine Israel’s Security: They argued that Israel faces existential threats from Hamas in Gaza, Hezbollah in Lebanon, and Iranian proxies across the region.
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Erode U.S. Credibility: Reversing a negotiated sale could damage trust among America’s allies and embolden adversaries, signaling wavering U.S. commitment.
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Circumvent Congressional Authority: Some members contended that, by the time a JRD reaches the floor, weapons deliveries are often under way and vital to ongoing missions, making blockage both impractical and disruptive.
Senator Jack Reed (D-RI), Chair of the Armed Services Committee, framed the vote as a question of national security:
“This assistance is not charity—it is critical support for our de facto ally in the region. Denying Israel the tools to defend itself weakens deterrence and puts American troops at greater risk.”
4. The Vote and Its Immediate Aftermath
4.1 Voting Outcomes
On September 28, 2023, the Senate voted on each JRD:
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S.J. Res. 111: Defeated 18–79
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S.J. Res. 112: Defeated 17–80
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S.J. Res. 113: Defeated 19–78
Notably, Sanders was joined by 17–18 Democratic and independent senators, but the resolutions did not secure a simple majority.
4.2 Reactions on the Hill
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Progressive Caucus: Praised Sanders for elevating the moral argument. Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) tweeted, “This debate is a first step toward real accountability. We will continue pushing until Congress exercises its constitutional authority.”
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White House: Released a statement affirming ongoing military cooperation with Israel and underscoring the administration’s expectation that Israel abide by international humanitarian norms—even as critics argue these expectations lack enforcement mechanisms.
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Human Rights Groups: Outlets such as Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch decried the vote as a “missed opportunity” to condition aid on compliance with the laws of war.
5. Political Ramifications
5.1 Fractures Within the Democratic Party
The vote exposed growing tensions between the party’s progressive and centrist wings:
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Progressives want to redefine U.S. foreign policy to prioritize human rights and diplomatic engagement.
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Centrists and Establishment Democrats insist that unwavering support for Israel is essential to national security and diplomatic positioning.
This rift has manifested in primary challenges, fundraising appeals, and platform debates ahead of the 2024 election cycle, signaling that Israel policy could become a pivotal issue in Democratic primaries.
5.2 Implications for the 2024 Campaign
Candidates for the Democratic nomination increasingly face pressure to articulate nuanced positions on Israel–Palestine:
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Echo Chamber Effect: Younger voters and swing constituencies—particularly Muslim and Jewish Americans—are scrutinizing candidates’ stances.
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Fundraising Dynamics: Both pro-Israel and pro-Palestinian groups are boosting contributions to primary challengers who align with their policy goals.
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Debate Spotlight: Major primary debates have begun allocating more time to foreign policy, with Israel emerging as a litmus test of a candidate’s worldview and moral compass.
6. Humanitarian and Legal Considerations
6.1 International Law and U.S. Obligations
Under the Fourth Geneva Convention, parties to a conflict must distinguish between military targets and civilian objects and take all feasible precautions to avoid civilian harm. The U.S., as a party to the Geneva Conventions and a permanent member of the United Nations Security Council, is obligated to promote respect for international humanitarian law.
6.2 U.S. Domestic Law Constraints
Beyond the AECA, the Leahy Laws prohibit U.S. military assistance to foreign units credibly accused of gross human rights violations. Critics of the arms sale argue that Israel’s conduct in Gaza should trigger Leahy Law reviews, potentially halting specific transfers.
6.3 The Human Cost in Gaza
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Casualties: Over 45,000 Palestinian fatalities, including more than 12,000 children.
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Displacement: Nearly 80 percent of Gaza’s pre-war population rendered internally displaced.
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Infrastructure: Over 60 percent of homes destroyed or severely damaged; hospitals operating at 40 percent capacity under dire resource shortages.
Humanitarian agencies estimate that more than 2 million Gazans remain at risk of famine and disease outbreaks amid limited access to clean water, medical supplies, and shelter.
7. Broader U.S. Foreign Policy at a Crossroads
7.1 Reassessing Strategic Priorities
The arms sale debate raises fundamental questions about America’s role in a multipolar world:
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Military Primacy vs. Diplomatic Engagement: Should the U.S. continue funneling arms to regional partners, or pivot toward leveraging economic incentives, multilateral institutions, and conflict-resolution frameworks?
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Values vs. Interests: How can the U.S. reconcile its self-declared commitment to human rights with alliances that may compromise those principles?
7.2 The Middle East Beyond Israel–Palestine
U.S. policy in the region also encompasses relations with Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Iran, and Turkey. Each bilateral relationship involves trade-offs: arms sales to Gulf states, nuclear negotiations with Tehran, and counterterrorism cooperation. The disconnect on the Gaza question could ripple into these other arenas, affecting negotiations on everything from oil production to technology partnerships.
8. What Comes Next?
8.1 Prospects for Future Congressional Action
Although these specific resolutions failed, advocates signal that they will continue to:
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Introduce Conditionality Legislation: Bills tying future military aid to verifiable human rights benchmarks.
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Leverage Appropriations: Amendments in the annual defense spending bill to carve out or limit funding for weapons systems linked to alleged abuses.
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Oversight Hearings: Calls for more robust congressional investigations into the end-use compliance of U.S. military assistance.
8.2 Executive Branch Levers
The Biden administration retains unilateral authorities to reprogram funds, impose drawdown restrictions, or wield executive orders to shape the flow of weaponry. Pressure from within the administration—particularly from the State and Defense Departments’ human rights offices—may yield narrower or delayed approvals of lethal aid.
8.3 Grassroots Mobilization
Civil society’s expanding role suggests that public opinion—especially among younger demographics—could tip the balance over time. Campus protests, social media campaigns, and door-to-door canvassing around primaries underscore a bottom-up drive for policy change.
Conclusion
The Senate’s overwhelming defeat of Senator Sanders’s three joint resolutions to block a $20 billion arms sale to Israel marks a pivotal moment in U.S. foreign policy—one that illuminates both the enduring bipartisan consensus on Israel’s security and the rising moral reckoning over the humanitarian consequences in Gaza. While the votes reaffirm Washington’s strategic calculus, they also open a new chapter of political contestation: within the Democratic Party, across civil society, and between the people’s will and policymaking elite.
As the Israeli-Palestinian conflict persists and the humanitarian toll intensifies, pressure is mounting on both Congress and the White House to find a more balanced approach—one that safeguards Israel’s security while upholding the universal values enshrined in international law. Whether future legislation or executive action will bridge this divide remains an open question. But one thing is clear: the debate sparked by Sanders’s resolutions has irrevocably shifted the conversation, forcing American policymakers to confront the ethical dimensions of alliance, aid, and accountability in the world’s most intractable conflicts.
