Senators Cory Booker and Andy Kim voted ‘Yes’ on two Senate Joint Resolutions of Disapproval (JRDs). Neither resolution passed, but support for the JRDs has been rapidly growing.
S.J. Res 138 would have blocked the sale to Israel of 12,000 BLU-110A/B general purpose, 1,000-pound bomb bodies. These bombs are high-impact munitions used in airstrikes, including in urban environments, that involve the risk of widespread destruction and civilian harm.
S.J. Res 32 would have blocked providing Israel with $295 million for D9 Caterpillar armored bulldozers. These bulldozers have been used extensively by Israeli forces in Gaza and the West Bank to demolish homes, structures, and agricultural lands in acts of collective punishment against the Palestinian population.
Back in July, Senator Booker voted against Joint Resolutions of Disapproval of weapons sales to Israel. JVP-NNJ and others strongly protested Booker’s vote then and we are extremely pleased that he has voted yes on these new resolutions.
With the United States’ and Israel’s illegal war in Iran, both Senators agree that every tool available must be used to restrain the Trump administration. Blocking bombs and other weapons and passing a War Powers Resolution are important ways for Congress to assert its constitutional authority to stop endless wars. Blocking armored bulldozers is an important way to slow down Israel’s policies of annexation and dispossession in Gaza and the West Bank.
In the past weeks, the United States and Israel have killed thousands of innocent civilians and destroyed huge amounts of civilian infrastructure. We urge Senators Kim and Booker to continue to do everything possible to slow down the juggernaut of death and devastation.