Seven Democrats joined all Republicans to keep the U.S. complicit in Israeli gov’t violence
Seven Democrats joined all Republicans to keep the U.S. complicit in Israeli gov’t violence
- Thu, Apr 30 2026 at 12:44 PM
Mark: A dam broke in the Senate when a record 40 senators voted to halt the sale of armored bulldozers to the Israeli government earlier this month.
This vote was a monumental step toward ending U.S. complicity in the Israeli government’s violence. But it wasn’t enough — in part, because Sens. Blumenthal (CT), Coons (DE), Cortez Masto (NV), Fetterman (PA), Gillibrand (NY), Rosen (NV), and Schumer (NY) joined all Republicans in voting to keep the flow of bombs and bulldozers to the Israeli government.
That means seven Democrats voted against 85% of their caucus to keep arming an Israeli government that’s committing a genocide in Gaza, illegally annexing the West Bank, and bombing southern Lebanon.
These votes were morally bankrupt. But they’re votes that the weapons lobby and powerful special interest groups like AIPAC will cheerlead to try and convince lawmakers they made the right choice.
Mark, we need to make sure senators hear a demand to end U.S. complicity in heartbreaking violence instead: One that reminds them that their constituents overwhelmingly reject this failed blank-check approach to the Israeli government.
ACT NOW Reaching this 40-vote benchmark took time and multiple, difficult votes. Just 15 senators voted to block a weapons transfer to the Israeli government in early 2025. Months later, only 27 senators — a majority of Democrats — blocked U.S.-made bombs and rifles bound for the Israeli military.
But among those who voted no is Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer — whose leadership role is traditionally tasked with uniting the caucus around an agenda supported by the Democratic masses. But where he’s failed to meet the moment, Sen. Bernie Sanders’ dedication to justice and accountability is helping turn the tide. “We got 40 votes, and Schumer got seven. We have more support for our position than Chuck has for his,” said Sen. Sanders, who introduced the joint resolutions of disapproval (JRDs).[1]
But it’s not just Democrats who are failing to listen to their constituents. Republican voters are also increasingly concerned by the U.S. blank-check approach to the Israeli government. Yet not a single Republican senator is adapting to their constituents’ mounting concern — not even Sen. Rand Paul (KY), who has a track record of voting against arms sales to Saudi Arabia and the UAE’s governments over human rights concerns, but who has yet to apply those same principles to the Israeli government.
That’s why we’re going to keep making voices calling for peace and justice — your voices — heard across Capitol Hill.
If we want resolutions like Sen. Sanders’ JRDs to pass in the future, we need to build a sustainable majority of senators willing to upend the status quo.
That work starts by reminding senators their votes are out of touch with the people they represent. Mark, we can’t risk the chance they think people like us aren’t paying attention to these votes, or worse, that we don’t care. Will you join us in speaking out?
Demand more from the senators who voted to send bombs and bulldozers to the Israeli government.
Every time we pressure our members of Congress, we’re showing up for our values, reminding them we’re paying attention, and holding them accountable. With each petition signature, phone call, and act of protest, we’re also creating the political space our decision-makers need to be bolder and work harder at building the safer, more sustainable future we all want and deserve.
That’s how we build political pressure. That’s how we stop U.S. complicity in a foreign government’s atrocities.
Thank you for working for peace,
The Win Without War team
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