Summarize this content to 2000 words in 6 paragraphs On March 27, Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) announced that he will force a Senate vote on joint resolutions of disapproval to block arms sales to Israel. Any senator supporting this initiative must recognize that the joint resolutions fail to advance peace, weaken our allies, and hurt themselves politically.In November, Sanders led a group of 19 senators in backing a prior series of measures to restrict certain U.S. arms sales to Israel. The effort was framed as a check on the destruction and loss of civilian life in Gaza—an issue that evokes deep concern for many, including Jews, who overwhelmingly stand for justice and human dignity.Yet for most Jews, that empathy exists alongside a steadfast support for Israel’s right to defend itself from Hamas, a U.S.-designated terrorist organization that deliberately embeds itself among civilians. While the motivation behind the bill may have been sincere, it never had a realistic path to passage and ultimately did little to protect Palestinian lives while serving as a public rebuke of Israel at a time when it could least afford it.
Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT)
Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT)
CHARLY TRIBALLEAU/AFP via Getty Images
Few understand this reality more than I do. My daughter, Rose, was serving in Israel’s Border Police when she was murdered by a terrorist in November 2023—just weeks after helping defend her kibbutz on Oct. 7. Losing her was a painful reminder that Hamas does not seek peace; it seeks destruction. Ensuring civilian safety means dismantling Hamas, and senators should be doing everything in their power to support that goal, not undermine it.Georgia’s Sen. Jon Ossoff (D), who is Jewish (along with Sanders himself), voted in support of restricting arms sales to Israel in November, and his decision did not go unnoticed. While his vote was intended to signal a nuanced position—opposing certain offensive weapons while supporting precision-guided munitions to minimize civilian deaths—it sparked swift backlash. More than 50 Jewish groups in Georgia condemned Ossoff’s stance, stating that it “provides cover for those who seek to harm the Jews around the world and further fuels the surge in antisemitism.”Former Secretary of State Antony Blinken captured the perils of such posturing, warning in January that, “whenever there has been public daylight between the United States and Israel and the perception that pressure was growing on Israel, we’ve seen it: Hamas has pulled back from agreeing to a ceasefire and the release of hostages.” In other words, leaders who take positions that appear to undermine Israel’s ability to defend itself—even when those positions have no real legislative impact—embolden Israel’s adversaries and make de-escalation more difficult to achieve.
The political ramifications of such actions are evident. As The New York Times reported in February, Ossoff’s vote has cost him significant support, with many in Georgia’s Jewish community now questioning his reliability as an advocate for our ally. This erosion of trust highlights the risks for elected officials who take positions perceived as wavering on Israel at a time when Jewish voters are prioritizing safety and steadfast U.S. support for the Jewish state.Foreign policy is not just about diplomatic statements and legislative maneuvers—it directly impacts lives, both in Israel and here at home. The pain of seeing Israeli hostages humiliated in public, the bitterness of lopsided hostage-for-prisoner exchanges, and the personal loss of loved ones like Rose underscore what is at stake when America’s commitment to Israel is called into question.When Sanders’ new initiatives come to the floor, senators should recognize that such measures are not just bad policy but politically reckless. Weakening Israel’s defense risks alienating Jewish and pro-Israel voters while fracturing the bipartisan consensus that has long defined U.S.-Israel relations. If America does not stand firm in its support, it sends a dangerous signal to both its adversaries and partners.U.S. leadership must be clear and resolute. Every vote in Washington shapes trust, security, and global stability. Amid escalating threats, American support for Israel cannot be reduced to political theater or symbolic gestures. We must be steadfast and decisive in order to bring home the hostages and truly advance the cause of peace.David Lubin ran as a Democratic candidate for the Georgia state senate.The views expressed in this article are the writer’s own.
