The tally of the votes provided a clear map of the current political divide in Washington. S.J. Res. 111 was struck down with a vote of 18 to 79; S.J. Res. 115 followed a similar path at 17 to 80; and S.J. Res. 113 was defeated 19 to 78. While these numbers indicate a solid majority in favor of maintaining military aid, they do not tell the full story of the momentum shifting beneath the surface. For Sanders and his co-sponsors, including Senators Peter Welch, Chris Van Hollen, and Jeff Merkley, the goal was not merely to win a legislative victory that was statistically unlikely, but to force a public accounting of American “complicity” in the devastation. During a press conference following the votes, Sanders was unwavering, accusing the administration of Benjamin Netanyahu of violating both international law and U.S. domestic statutes that prohibit military aid to countries blocking American humanitarian assistance. Continue reading…
