On Nov. 20, Congress held its first-ever vote to block offensive weapons sales to Israel. Senators voted on three Joint Resolutions of Disapproval (JRDs) Bernie Sanders had introduced to prevent the sale of specific offensive weapons used in well-documented Gaza human rights violations. While they did not pass, 19 senators voted in favor, marking a significant milestone for a growing movement to end the war in Gaza and a change in the nature of the US-Israel relationship.
So why was this vote an important step forward for the peace movement despite its end result?
The JRD vote marks the second time this year Palestinian human rights have been central to a debate on the Senate floor. In January, Sanders forced a vote on Senate Resolution 504, a bill requiring the State Department to produce a report on Israeli human rights violations in Gaza and the West Bank, gaining support from 12 senators.
Less than a year later, with this JRD vote, 19 senators voted to block offensive weapons sales to Israel for the first time in our history. Increasingly, senators are drawing attention to the horrors of the war in Gaza and US complicity in apparent war crimes.
Unprecedented Coalition
An unprecedented coalition of more than 100 diverse national civil society organizations endorsed the JRDs. These included the pro-Israel lobby J Street and the Service Employees International Union, which represents over two million members.
Together with constituents across the country, these organizations mobilized to generate hundreds of thousands of calls, emails, in-district meetings, and protests in support of the resolutions. Some of these groups had never publicly commented on sending weapons to Israel, marking a shift for influential organizations.
A key group of lawmakers led efforts to support the resolutions, including six of the eleven Democrats on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee (SFRC). Notable senators leading the charge included Senator Jeanne Shaheen, who will become the most senior Democrat on the SFRC in the next Congress, Senator Chris Murphy, Chair of the SFRC Middle East Subcommittee, and Democratic Whip Dick Durbin.
Despite significant opposition from pro-Israel lobby group AIPAC and the White House, the 19 yea votes demonstrate a growing movement to hold Israel accountable. American weapon sales are increasingly becoming a mainstream concern, especially considering the majority of Americans oppose further sales to Israel.
Proven Strategy
Advocates for the Israel JRD effort are fully aware that ending unconditional US support for Israel will be a long and challenging process, and that this particular resolution would not pass. However, history shows that forcing votes and debates, even if bills do not pass, can shift policy and influence key partners.
A clear example of this shift was seen in the Saudi-led war in Yemen. From 2015 to 2021, the US provided military aid in support of Saudi Arabia against the Houthis, fueling a war and humanitarian crisis resulting in more than 377,000 deaths and bringing millions to the brink of famine. Through years of congressional pressure, driven by extensive constituent advocacy and civil society efforts, policy gradually shifted.
However, history shows that forcing votes and debates, even if bills do not pass, can shift policy and influence key partners.
The first JRD on weapons sales to Saudi Arabia, introduced in September 2016 by Senators Chris Murphy and Rand Paul, received 27 votes in favor. In June 2017, the senators’ second JRD drew 47 votes in support. In February 2018, Senator Sanders introduced the Yemen War Powers Resolution (WPR), directing the removal of US troops from hostilities in Yemen. The first Yemen WPR vote in March 2018 garnered 44 supporting votes, and by April 2019, the resolution passed both the Senate with 56 votes and the House with 248 votes.
Although then President Donald Trump vetoed the Yemen WPR, the Congressional pressure created by this legislative effort led to significant policy changes, most notably, President Trump’s cessation of US mid-air refueling for Saudi warplanes, the United Arab Emirates’ military withdrawal from Yemen, and support for the Hodeida port ceasefire.
Upon taking office, President Joe Biden ended additional forms of US assistance for offensive operations in the war, which helped lead to a regional truce and increased aid access — all of which likely saved hundreds of thousands of lives.
Undeniable Momentum
The results of the JRDs votes show the power of the movement to end unconditional support for Israel. While the resolutions did not immediately halt weapons sales, and the devastation continues to worsen in Gaza, these votes forced a critical congressional reckoning, compelling senators who had long avoided the issue to take a public stance and go on the record in a way that will be documented in history.
This vote shattered the glass ceiling on US-Israel relations, and although the fight to end this support is far from over, the momentum is undeniable.
