Senator Weighs Position on Proposal to Block Arms Sales to Israel

Sen. George Helmy, D-N.J., said Nov. 8 that he’s consulting with fellow lawmakers to help him decide whether to support a proposal by Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., to block the sale of more than $20 billion in U.S. military equipment to Israel.

Helmy, a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee and the Senate’s only Arab-American, said he hopes to speak to Sanders the week of Nov. 11. “I’m going to withhold the opinion until I talk to more of my colleagues and Senator Sanders specifically,” Helmy told reporters.

Helmy, who visited the Middle East in late October, has raised concerns about the “dire humanitarian crisis” in Gaza, the West Bank and Lebanon, all three of which recently have seen Israeli military offensives against terrorist groups.

Sanders introduced his legislation in September, citing several concerns, including about civilian casualties in Gaza (see 2409300064). He has said he plans to push for a vote on his proposal when Congress reconvenes this week.