Sanders introduces legislation to block $20b in arms sales to Israel

U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) on Wednesday introduced legislation to block arms sales to Israel. The Joint Resolutions of Disapproval would prevent the transfer of more than $20 billion in offensive weapons to Jerusalem. The Senate will vote on the resolutions when lawmakers reconvene in November.

In explaining his rationale for introducing the resolution, Sanders accused Israel’s “extremist government” of waging an “all-out war against the Palestinian people.”

"[Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin] Netanyahu has bombed hospitals and schools, starved children, destroyed infrastructure and housing stock, and made life unlivable in Gaza. The United States must end its complicity in this atrocity,” wrote Sanders, adding that “sending more weapons is not only immoral, it is also illegal.”

Sanders went on to state that “now the world must contend with the dramatic escalation in Lebanon.”

Sen. Peter Welch (D-Vt.) and Sen. Jeff Merkley (D-Or.) joined Sanders in introducing the resolutions.

When Sanders earlier this month announced his intention to introduce the bill, Mark Mellman, president and CEO of Democratic Majority for Israel, called it “deeply misguided, counterproductive, and dangerous, particularly as Israel is actively engaged in a five-front, defensive war.”

“Disarming Israel in the midst of a war is not the way to resolve the Israeli-Palestinian conflict,” he continued.

Sanders’ plan “gives Iran and its proxies exactly what they want, and plays into their strategy—to drive a wedge between the U.S. and Israel. Senator Sanders’ approach helps them succeed,” he added.

“While war is awful and civilian casualties tragic, Hamas bears responsibility for them,” he said, adding, “Military experts say Israel has done more than any other country to prevent civilian casualties and is acting lawfully.”

Furthermore, he said, the proposed legislation “ignores American opinion,” noting that “recent polling demonstrates that only 23% of voters nationally want security assistance decreased from current levels, while 60% want it increased or kept the same, and 17% offer no opinion.”