Jewish groups applauded the Senate’s decision on Wednesday night to reject a bid by Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) to block weapon sales to Israel.
The Senate voted 18-79 against a resolution blocking the sale of tank rounds, 19-78 against a resolution barring the sale of high-explosive mortar rounds and 17-80 against a resolution banning the sale of joint direct attack munitions, CNN reported.
“AIPAC commends the US Senate for standing with Israel and overwhelmingly rejecting proposed bans on critical weapons sales to the Jewish state as it fights to protect its families from Iran and its terrorist proxies,” the pro-Israel group stated. “We applaud the Biden administration for approving these sales and helping ensure Israel has the resources it needs to win.”
AIPAC added that most Senate Democrats and Republicans “again demonstrated profound American support for our ally and rejected the dangerous efforts” of Sanders “and his allies to weaken Israel and undermine the US-Israel relationship.”
“The Jewish state is on the front lines of the fight against common enemies. These arms sales help strengthen our ally, deter further Iranian aggression and create American jobs,” AIPAC said. “America must continue to stand with our democratic ally as Iran continues to escalate its seven-front war and its proxy holds 101 hostages, including 7 Americans.”
Mark Mellman, president and CEO of Democratic Majority for Israel, said the “dangerous and counterproductive resolutions are a betrayal of our ally, Israel, as it fights a defensive war. That’s why the clear and decisive majority of Democratic senators voted to defeat them.”
“Today, Democrats reaffirmed, once again, that the majority of our party stands firmly with the Israeli people and supports Israel’s security, especially in this critical time,” he stated. “While a few vocal anti-Israel voices in our party often get outsized attention, the majority of Senate Democrats remain steadfast in support of Israel’s sovereignty and right to self-defense.”
“The civilian deaths in Gaza and Lebanon are tragic—and the responsibility for those deaths lies squarely with Hamas, Hezbollah and Iran,” Mellman added. “Had they not deliberately provoked a war on Oct. 7 last year, almost all those civilians would be alive today.”
Matt Brooks, CEO of the Republican Jewish Coalition, said “today marks a dangerous new low for anti-Israel Democrats in the US Senate, who voted to cancel $20 billion in pending arms sales to Israel that were already authorized by Congress.”
Brooks, who noted that all of the “anti-Israel Democrats” who voted for the resolutions were endorsed by J Street, Jewish Democratic Council of America or both, added that it is “shameful that self-proclaimed ‘shomer’ Chuck Schumer refused to whip votes against this anti-Israel measure.”
“The American people overwhelmingly support Israel in this fight of good versus evil,” he stated. “Senate Democrats would do well to listen.”