By Andrew Trunsky
Vermont Independent Sen. Bernie Sanders is set to introduce legislation Thursday that would block a $735 million arms sale to Israel.
The resolution would halt the sale of Joint Direct Attack Munitions and Small Diameter Bombs to America’s top Middle Eastern ally, according to a draft of the legislation first reported by The Washington Post, amid the worst violence between Israel and Hamas in years. It only needs a simple majority to pass the Senate, but would need two-thirds support to overcome a potential veto by President Joe Biden.
Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., and Rep.Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y.
“At a moment when U.S.-made bombs are devastating Gaza, and killing women and children, we cannot simply let another huge arms sale go through without even a Congressional debate,” Sanders wrote on Twitter Thursday. “I believe that the United States must help lead the way to a peaceful and prosperous future for both Israelis and Palestinians. We need to take a hard look at whether the sale of these weapons is actually helping do that, or whether it is simply fueling conflict.”
Just a day earlier, Democratic Reps. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Rashida Tlaib and Mark Pocan introduced a similar resolution opposing the arms sale.
“For decades, the U.S. has sold billions of dollars in weaponry to Israel without ever requiring them to respect basic Palestinian rights,” Ocasio-Cortez said in a statement. “In so doing, we have directly contributed to the death, displacement and disenfranchisement of millions.”
Biden demanded a de-escalation between Israel and Hamas on Wednesday as casualties continued to increase and a growing number of Democrats increased pressure on him to do so. He was rebuffed by Netanyahu, who said he was “determined” to continue airstrikes, leading to a rare break between Israel and the United States.
Dozens of Democratic senators called for an immediate ceasefire Monday, and the two top lawmakers on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee released their own statement urging the same. Indiana Sen. Todd Young, the committee’s top Republican, seemingly walked back his support for a ceasefire Wednesday, saying that he would oppose a ceasefire “on Hamas’ terms.”
Sanders wrote an op-ed for The New York Times last week criticizing the U.S. for being an “apologist” toward Netanyahu’s government, urging the American military to not “enable human rights abuses” in the region.
“This approach must recognize that Israel has the absolute right to live in peace and security, but so do the Palestinians,” he said. “But if the United States is going to be a credible voice on human rights on the global stage, we must uphold international standards of human rights consistently, even when it’s politically difficult.”
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Traitor to you’re homeland.
An absolutely appropriate move on Bernie’s part. The fascist tactics utilized by the Likud block to marginalize and exterminate palestinians, steal their homes, burn their olive groves, raze their neighborhoods, harass their children, impoversh their communities and humiliate working men for the last several decades is a shameful chapter of history in which the US has been a willing participant. It’s about time to say NO to Israeli apartheid.
betrayed his state and now his people
Even though Bernard ” Socialist ” Sanders, is supposed to be of Jewish Faith, I guess
he doesn’t give a ” Rats-A ” about those in Jerusalem.
Oh that’s right, Bernie isn’t dodging any missiles and doesn’t believe that Jerusalem shouldn’t
be able to defend themselves from the terrorist Hamas, Well Hamas, don’t start a fight you
probably can’t win.
It just goes to show how out of touch Socialt Sanders really is and he’s siding with AOC, so
you talk about dumber & dumber.
Vermont should hang its head in shame for having Sanders represent us in DC, you know we
are the laughing stock of the world. pretty pathetic!!
Bernard Sanders religion is ” Socialist ” and progressive-ism (kind of redundant)! And based on this he maybe a member of the muslim cult.
I watched The crying commie Bernie Sanders on the news today.
He was complaining because children were being killed in Palestine and in Israel and that the United States of America was supporting the killing of children because they support the defense of these Israelis from the criminal Palestinians.
Never once has the commie Bernie Sanders spoken out about the illegal immigrants flooding America bringing crime and drugs and child trafficking and even murdering the American children.
Who are the imbeciles that support people like Bernie Sanders?
Who are the idiots that vote for people like Joe Biden and the rest of the ignorant Democrats that are hell-bent on the destruction of America while turning their backs on the American taxpayer.
We don’t have to guess who they are in the state of Vermont.
We have a turncoat Governor Phil Scott and his supporting crew Joe Benning and the rest of the Trump bashers.
We have Sarah Copeland Hanzas and the rest of the Communists in the state of Vermont tell bent on destroying our state.
We now have introduced illegal voting into the state of Vermont.
We are being sold out not only in the state of Vermont but across America..
When are people going to wake up and denounce these communist pieces of garbage.
I wish I knew. Vermont has turned into a liberal septic tank. This is what happens when you no longer have honest elections. Our entire state government and our reps and senators are sell-outs and only interested in lining their pockets. This state’s officials are disgusting
Bernie the commie from day one that he took a step onto Vermont soil has been a user, crook, liar, and bragger.. He lived off his first wife, cuz he wouldn’t get a job, They lived in a shack with a dirt floor. His wife got tired of supporting his butt. He had a kid by another woman and he denied it was his. He lived off of friends till they kicked him out. He stole electricity from a neighbor ( hooked into the power box.)
He has put the Isreal people down from day one. He has no use for them. I hate it when these idiots here in Vermont (not true Vermonters) call him Vermont’s son. he’s from NY for heaven’s sake !!! He’s not a Vermonter.
The only way Democrats can get votes, is, lying, cheating, and letting illegals and minors vote. He’s all for 15 yr olds and up the right to vote. !!! Oh and promise them free stuff as long as it’s not his money or stuff…
clock is right twice a day