Senate Democrats Keep Trying to Undermine Israel

After Democrats Blocked Legislation Supporting Israeli and American Sovereignty, Far-Left Democrats Will Try Cutting Off American Military Support to Israel Again After Trying and Failing Last Year

AFTER FAILING TO END U.S. SUPPORT FOR ISRAEL LAST YEAR, SEN. BERNIE SANDERS IS ONCE AGAIN ATTEMPTING TO HALT WEAPONS SALES TO ISRAEL

Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) is forcing votes on resolutions to block $8.8 billion in weapons sales as Israel continues to defend itself from Hamas. (Jewish Insider: Senate to vote on Sanders resolutions blocking Israel aid on Thursday – 4/3/25; Fox News: Ceasefire over as Israel strikes Gaza after Hamas refused to release hostages, officials say – 3/17/25)

- “The United States must not continue to supply endless amounts of military aid and weaponry to the Netanyahu government.” – Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.)
According to the U.S. intelligence community’s annual threat assessment report released last month, “Even in degraded form, Hamas continues to pose a threat to Israeli security. The group retains thousands of fighters and much of its underground infrastructure, and probably has used the ceasefire to reinforce and resupply its military and munitions stock so that it can fight again.” (Office of the Director of National Intelligence: Annual Threat Assessment of the U.S. Intelligence Community – March 2025)

Last year, Sanders and progressive allies filed three resolutions of disapproval that would have halted U.S. arms sales to Israel. Between the three failed resolutions, 17 to 19 Senate Democrats voted to prevent Israel from accessing the critical armaments they need to defend themselves. (Reuters: US Senate rejects bids to block military sales to Israel – 11/20/24; S.J.Res. 111: Roll Call Vote #292 – 11/20/24; S.J.Res. 113: Roll Call Vote #293 – 11/20/24; S.J.Res. 115: Roll Call Vote #294 – 11/20/24)

November’s “votes made it clear that Democrats in Congress remained split over whether it is time for the United States to contemplate a policy change toward its longtime ally.” (The New York Times: Democrats Split as Senate Rejects Bills to Block Weapons Transfers to Israel – 11/20/24)

Also last November, nearly 90 Democrats called on the Biden administration to sanction members of Israel’s government. “U.S. sanctions against Israeli ministers would be an unprecedented step in the relationship between the two countries.” (Axios: Nearly 90 lawmakers call on Biden to sanction Israeli ultranationalist ministers – 11/14/24)

JUST THIS YEAR, SENATE DEMOCRATS BLOCKED CONSIDERATION OF A BILL THAT WOULD HAVE SANCTIONED INTERNATIONAL CRIMINAL COURT OFFICIALS FOR ISSUING ILLEGAL ARREST WARRANTS FOR ISRAELI OFFICIALS

(The Wall Street Journal: Editorial: Schumer Protects the International Criminal Court – 1/30/25)

Senate Democrats blocked a bill sanctioning officials of the International Criminal Court (ICC) for “the court’s issuing of arrest warrants for top Israeli officials last year,” after Democrat Leader Chuck Schumer “stressed the need for unity” among Democrats. (Axios: Senate Dems block ICC sanctions bill in Schumer-urged show of unity – 1/28/25)

The bill would have sanctioned any foreign person who “has directly engaged in or otherwise aided any effort by the International Criminal Court to investigate, arrest, detain, or prosecute” someone not under the ICC’s jurisdiction. (H.R. 23: Illegitimate Court Counteraction Act – 1/13/25)

The ICC has a record of targeting Americans: In 2020, ICC prosecutors began an investigation into U.S. personnel who served in Afghanistan since May 2003. (The Wall Street Journal: U.S. Rebukes International Court Over Afghanistan War Crimes Probe – 3/5/20)

“Schumer was especially happy that Democrats banded together to filibuster a GOP-drafted Israel bill earlier this week…” (Punchbowl News: Johnson, Thune, Schumer and Jeffries: The Leader Look – 1/31/25)

WHILE SENATE DEMOCRATS TRY TO BLOCK SUPPORT FOR ISRAEL, SENATE REPUBLICANS AND PRESIDENT TRUMP ARE TAKING ACTION IN SUPPORT OF OUR ALLY

“Over the last 18 months, since Hamas’ October 7, 2023, attack on Israel, Iran-backed Houthis in the Middle East have carried out literally hundreds of attacks on U.S. and international shipping and on U.S. forces. Air strikes by the Biden administration failed to stop the Houthis’ activities. This is an unacceptable situation. And so President Trump is taking action.” – Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.)

Last August, 48 Senate Republicans sent a letter to President Biden demanding that he stop delaying the delivery of weapons, ammunition, and equipment to Israel. (Sen. Cotton: Cotton, 47 Senate GOP Colleagues to Biden-Harris Administration: Delaying Weapons to Israel Undermines Our Ally, Accommodates Iran – 8/02/24)

“President Donald Trump, who began a second term on Jan. 20 and is a fierce advocate for Israel, has reversed Biden's efforts to place some limits on what arms are sent to Netanyahu's government.” (Reuters: US Senator Sanders to force Senate votes on blocking arms for Israel – 3/27/25)

In a reversal from the Biden administration’s Iran policy, President Trump signed an executive order reimposing its “maximum economic pressure” campaign on Iran, “including sanctions and enforcement mechanisms on those violating existing sanctions. It also directs the Treasury and State Department to implement a campaign aimed at ‘driving Iran's oil exports to zero.’” (White House: Fact Sheet: President Donald J. Trump Restores Maximum Pressure on Iran – 2/4/25; Reuters: Trump reimposes 'maximum pressure' on Iran, aims to drive oil exports to zero – 2/4/25)

The Trump administration launched a two-week-long offensive against the Houthis “after the Houthi terrorist group once again renewed its threats against Israeli vessels” in March. (Fox News: After debilitating strikes, Trump tells Houthis: Stop shooting at us and 'we will stop shooting at you' – 3/31/25)

President Biden revoked the terrorist designation for the Houthis that was installed by the first Trump administration. President Trump restored the designation as one of his first acts back in the White House. (The Associated Press: Biden revokes terrorist designation for Yemen’s Houthis – 2/5/21; White House: Designation Of Ansar Allah As A Foreign Terrorist Organization – 1/22/25)

“In fact, since 2023, Houthi terrorists attacked U.S. Navy warships 174 times and attacked commercial shipping vessels 145 times — and as a result, 75% of U.S.-flagged shipping has been forced to navigate the southern coast of Africa rather than through the Suez Canal.” (White House: Trump Administration’s Actions Made Houthi Terrorists Pay – 3/25/25)

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