Jewish groups applaud Senate rejection of Bernie Sanders’ effort to block aid to Israel

Jewish groups applauded the Senate’s decision Wednesday night to reject a resolution Bid by Senator Bernie Sanders (I-VT) to stop arms sales to Israel,

The Senate voted 18-79 against a resolution banning the sale of tank rounds, 19-78 against a resolution banning the sale of high-explosive mortar rounds, and 17-against a resolution banning the sale of combined direct attack weapons. Gave 80 votes. CNN reported,

The pro-Israel group said, “AIPAC applauds the U.S. Senate for standing with Israel and rejecting proposed sanctions on critical arms sales to the Jewish state as it fights to protect its families from Iran and its terrorist proxies.” Is.” “We commend the Biden administration for approving these sales and helping to ensure that Israel has the resources it needs to win.”

AIPAC said the majority of Senate Democrats and Republicans “again demonstrated deep American support for our ally and rejected Sanders” and his allies’ dangerous efforts to demonize Israel and undermine US-Israel relations.

“The Jewish state is on the front lines in the fight against common enemies. These arms sales help strengthen our allies, deter further Iranian aggression, and create American jobs, AIPAC said. “The United States must stand with our democratic allies as Iran escalates its seven-front war and its proxies hold 101 hostages, including 7 Americans.”

“The dangerous and counterproductive proposals are a betrayal of our ally Israel as it fights a defensive war,” said Mark Mellman, president and CEO of the Democratic Majority for Israel. That’s why a clear and decisive majority of Democratic senators voted to defeat him.

“Today, Democrats once again reaffirmed that the majority of our party stands firmly with the Israeli people and supports Israel’s security, especially at this critical time,” he said. “While some of the most vocal anti-Israel voices in our party are often ignored, the majority of Senate Democrats remain steadfast in their support of Israel’s sovereignty and right to self-defense.”

“The civilian deaths in Gaza and Lebanon are tragic and responsibility for those deaths rests squarely with Hamas, Hezbollah and Iran,” Melman said. “If they had not deliberately provoked war on October 7 last year, almost all civilians would be alive today.”

“Today marks a dangerous new low for anti-Israel Democrats in the U.S. Senate,” said Matt Brooks, CEO of the Republican Jewish Coalition, who voted to cancel $20 billion in pending arms sales to Israel that had already been approved. were authorized by Congress.”

Brooks, who noted that all “anti-Israel Democrats” who voted for the resolutions were endorsed by J Street, the Jewish Democratic Council of America, or both, said it was “shameful that the self-proclaimed ‘Shomer’ “Chuck Schumer refused to whip the vote against the anti-Israel measure.”

“The American people overwhelmingly support Israel in this battle of good versus evil,” he said. “Senate Democrats would do well to listen.”