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.
“This is where the American people are. The polls are very clear: The overwhelming majority of American people do not want to continue to give weapons to Netanyahu and his horrific wars in the Mideast,” he said. “I think the Democrats have caught on to that. It took a little while, but they caught on to that. But Republicans, I think, are standing in opposition to millions of their own supporters.”
It would obviously be a net good for global society if the US federal government stopped functioning; if the government continues pursuing its current interests that will never happen, yet if foreign lobbyists whose interests are fundamentally enemical to the US (such as China, but not Israel, which is just an appendage of the US) can influence the US federal government it may happen. At least that seems more proximal than the US working class suddenly gaining the kind of militant political stances and organization that would be necessary otherwise. But if both things could happen that’d be even better.