Lawmaker cites polls showing falling support for Israel, introduces two joint resolutions to block an arms sale
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Summary
A lawmaker on the Senate floor said public support for Israel has "plummeted," cited recent Pew and Quinnipiac polls showing broad opposition across parties and among young voters, and introduced two joint resolutions of disapproval intended to block an arms sale; no vote was recorded in the transcript.
A lawmaker on the Senate floor said public support for Israel has "plummeted" and announced two joint resolutions of disapproval intended to block an arms sale, citing recent Pew and Quinnipiac polls that the lawmaker said show rising opposition across parties and among young people.
The lawmaker framed the move as responding to shifting public opinion, saying, "Today, according to a recent Pew poll, 80% of Democrats now have an unfavorable opinion of Israel, and 41% of Republicans share that view." The speaker said the decline is sharper among younger voters and urged colleagues to take that into account.
"Young people, whether they are young Democrats, progressives, conservatives, do not want us to continue to fund the horrific war policies of Netanyahu," the lawmaker said, using youth opposition as part of the rationale for congressional action.
The lawmaker also cited a Quinnipiac poll, saying it found "60%, including 3 quarters of Democrats, 2 thirds of Independents, and 37% of Republicans," and addressed GOP colleagues directly: "I say that to my Republican colleagues. 37% of Republicans do not want the US sending more military aid to Israel."
On that basis, the lawmaker said, "And that is why, mister president, I am offering today 2 joint resolutions of disapproval." The speaker described such resolutions as "the only formal mechanism Congress has to block an arms sale." The transcript does not identify which specific arms sale the resolutions target, and no vote or floor action on the measures was recorded in the provided excerpt.
The announcement signals an intent to pursue a formal congressional check on an arms transfer through joint resolutions of disapproval; the transcript contains no further procedural detail about committee referral, bill numbers, or a timetable for a vote.
The lawmaker's remarks were built around cited polling data rather than detailed policy proposals, and the transcript does not include responses from other senators, staff or agency officials about the substance of the resolutions or the underlying sale.
