WASHINGTON, April 15 - The U.S. Senate on Wednesday declined to advance two separate resolutions that would have blocked the sale of about $447 million in military materiel to Israel, as Republican senators coalesced in support of the Trump administration's policy toward the Jewish state.
Senator Bernie Sanders, an independent who caucuses with Democrats, forced the votes arguing the transfers violated statutory criteria in the Foreign Assistance Act and the Arms Export Control Act. The measures targeted two distinct transactions: a $295 million package involving Caterpillar D9R and D9T bulldozers, related parts and support, and a $151.8 million sale of 12,000 BLU-110A/B general-purpose 1,000-pound bombs with associated logistics and technical support services.
The procedural vote on the resolution seeking to block the bulldozer sale failed 59 to 40, with seven Democrats joining every Republican voting to prevent the measure from advancing. Republican Senator Cynthia Lummis of Wyoming was absent and did not cast a vote.
The second procedural vote, on the resolution to prohibit the transfer of the BLU-110A/B bombs, was blocked 63 to 36 after eleven Democrats crossed party lines to join Republicans. Republican Senator Thom Tillis of North Carolina was not present for that vote.
Supporters of the disapproval measures framed the sales as part of a broader debate over U.S. leverage and the humanitarian consequences of Israeli military operations. Sanders told colleagues the bombs have been used in attacks on Gaza and Lebanon and that bulldozers have been employed to demolish homes in Gaza, Lebanon and the West Bank. "The United States must use the leverage we have - tens of billions in arms and military aid - to demand that Israel ends these atrocities," he said, urging senators to back the resolutions.
Israel has responded to criticism by maintaining it does not intentionally target civilians and that its strikes are aimed at neutralizing militants and military infrastructure.
The votes reflected contrasting pressures within Congress. Longstanding, bipartisan backing for Israel in the U.S. legislature means measures intended to halt weapons transfers face long odds, yet advocates of the resolutions say bringing the issue to a floor vote is a way to press both Israel's government and U.S. administrations to give greater weight to civilian protection when conducting military operations.
Wednesday's outcome also pointed to a modest rise in congressional support for restrictions on arms sales since last summer. In July, two similar Sanders-led resolutions seeking to block arms transfers tied to civilian casualties in Gaza were also defeated in the Senate, losing by margins of 73 to 24 and 70 to 27 in the 100-member chamber.
The Trump administration had earlier moved to expedite some transfers, bypassing the routine congressional review process. Officials argued there was an emergency early in the U.S.-Israeli war on Iran that required immediate transfer of the weapons.
The votes do not end the debate over U.S. arms transfers to Israel. They do, however, highlight the current congressional arithmetic: a majority of Democrats support measures to limit or scrutinize certain sales, while Republican unity on such matters continues to block formal congressional disapproval.