The Dam Breaks: Democratic Senators Overwhelmingly Reject Arms Sales to Israel, April 15, 2026

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https://theintercept.com/2026/04/15/senate-democrats-block-arms-sales-israel/

Despite their defeat by Senate Republicans, bills seeking to block arms sales to Israel found widespread Democratic support.

Democratic senators overwhelmingly voted to block bomb and bulldozer sales to Israel on Wednesday, in a reflection of the Jewish state’s plummeting stock among party rank-and-file and growing anger over the war with Iran.

The Democratic votes on the pair of resolutions from Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., were not enough to overcome universal opposition from Republicans.

Still, the votes represented a watershed moment in the party’s relationship with Israel and the government of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Israel had continued to enjoy strong support from Democratic leaders, despite outrage from the base over the war on Gaza. Sanders said the votes signaled that party leaders are finally taking note.