19 Senators Vote Against More U.S. Weapons For Israel In Rebuke To Biden
HuffPost
Wednesday was the first time Congress has voted on blocking specific arms transfers to Israel, reflecting deep frustration among lawmakers with Israeli conduct in Gaza and Lebanon.
WASHINGTON — 19 senators on Wednesday voted against sending Israel additional American military equipment — the first-ever rebuke of its kind in Congress, and a signal of how frustration has grown in Washington as Israeli forces have pummeled Gaza with near-total support from President Joe Biden.
That group of Democratic and independent senators voted against sending Israel $61 million worth of high explosive mortar rounds. All but one of them, Sen. George Helmy (D-N.J.), also voted to reject shipping Israel $774 million worth of tank rounds, which its military has used in attacks on children and aid groups.
Both tranches of equipment are part of a package of American-Israeli arms deals Biden unveiled in August.
The overwhelming majority of the chamber, including all Republicans, still voted to allow the arms deals to proceed.
Still, the number represented a significant stand against Biden and a challenge to the idea that support for Israel is beyond question.