Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer told reporters on Wednesday that Democrats in the Senate are considering imposing conditions on U.S. aid to Israel. The Senate defeated a resolution that would have placed conditions on American assistance to Israel, with a vote tally of 72 against and 11 in support of the measure proposed by independent progressive Senator Bernie Sanders. Sanders stated in a speech to his colleagues, "Regardless of your views on this terrible war, we cannot hide... Since the beginning of the conflict, we have not discussed a single measure that addresses the unprecedented destruction, the humanitarian crisis, and the use of American weapons in a military campaign that has resulted in many deaths, injuries, and displaced persons."
Despite the proposal's failure to secure the required votes for approval, which was expected, its discussion in the Senate is considered a "remarkable" and significant step, demonstrating increasing opposition to President Joe Biden's policy towards Israel among his supporters. The U.S. provides Israel with annual military aid amounting to $3.8 billion, and the Biden administration requested congressional approval for $14.3 billion in October, but lawmakers have yet to agree on the amount due to internal disputes over immigration reform. This situation has led the White House to seek to bypass congressional authority through emergency legislation, sending approximately $106 million in military aid to Israel in December.
