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Bernie Sanders Blasted Over Attempt To Block Arms Transfers To Israel
US Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) speaks to the media following a meeting with US President Joe Biden at the White House in Washington, US, July 17, 2023. Photo: REUTERS/Evelyn Hockstein
Lawmakers and allies of the Jewish state are blasting Sen. Bernie Sanders (D-VT) over proposing legislation to block arms transfers worth an estimated $20 billion to Israel.
On Wednesday, Sanders introduced Joint Resolutions of Disapproval alongside Sen. Jeff Merkley (D-OH) and Sen. Peter Welch (D-VT) to nix the sale of over $20 billion in offensive weapons to Israel. In a statement, Sanders wrote that Israel’s “extremist” government headlined by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has “waged all-out war against the Palestinian people.” The senator directly accused Israel of targeting hospitals, bombing infrastructure, and starving children.
“American weapons have been used indiscriminately, and several of the systems included in these sales are responsible for a large number of civilian casualties. There is a mountain of documentary evidence demonstrating that these weapons are being used in violation of U.S. and international law,” Sanders wrote.
Sanders then accused Netanyahu of trying to prolong the war in Gaza to bolster his political standing with the Israeli public. He claimed that the Israeli leader has intentionally derailed every potential ceasefire deal with the Hamas terrorist group by adding last-minute conditions.
He concludes that “sending more weapons to Netanyahu’s extremist government is unacceptable. That is why many of our closest allies have already stopped offensive arms transfers. Congress must now act to uphold U.S. and international law and use our leverage to advance U.S. policy goals.”
The senators received widespread backlash over their attempt to withhold arms from Israel amid the Jewish state’s ongoing war against the Hamas terrorist group.
“Weakening our ally as it fights on 7 fronts doesn’t stop the wars, it just emboldens Israel & America’s enemies,” The American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) wrote on X/Twitter.
“These dangerous resolutions undermine our ally as Iran and its proxies attack it on 7 fronts,” AIPAC added.
“Israel is already under attack on all fronts. Our ally shouldn’t be attacked in the halls of Congress,” Sen. Joni Ernst wrote on X/Twitter.
Sanders has long been a staunch critic of the Jewish state. Sanders has repeatedly accused Israel of committing “collective punishment” and “apartheid” against the Palestinian people. Although the senator initially condemned the Oct. 7 slaughters of roughly 1200 people throughout southern Israel by Hamas, he subsequently pushed for a “ceasefire” between the Jewish state and the terrorist group.
The effort to block arms transfers to Israel is not expected to pass Congress. However, many observe the legislation as a message to the Netanyahu government that the ongoing war effort has eroded the broad bipartisan support that Israel once enjoyed within the United States.
The post Bernie Sanders Blasted Over Attempt To Block Arms Transfers To Israel first appeared on Algemeiner.com.
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UK Bars All Israelis from Prestigious Defense College
Demonstrators attend the “Lift the Ban” rally organized by Defend Our Juries, challenging the British government’s proscription of “Palestine Action” under anti-terrorism laws, in Parliament Square, in London, Britain, Sept. 6, 2025. Photo: REUTERS/Carlos Jasso
i24 News – The British government has announced that, starting next year, Israelis will no longer be admitted to the Royal College of Defense Studies (RCDS), marking the first exclusion of Israelis since the institution was founded in 1927. Previously, restrictions applied only to officers of the Israel Defense Forces (IDF), but the new policy will apply to all Israeli applicants, civilian or military.
The decision comes amid the ongoing war in Gaza, according to reporting by The Telegraph, and represents a notable shift in British-Israeli defense cooperation.
Amir Baram, Director General of the Israeli Ministry of Defense, criticized the move in strong terms, calling it a “deeply shameful and discriminatory” decision and “a betrayal of an ally in time of war.”
In a statement, Baram emphasized Israel’s broader security contributions, including protecting international shipping from Houthi attacks, preventing nuclear proliferation by hostile regimes, and efforts to secure the release of 48 hostages held by Hamas.
“Israel’s exclusion is a profoundly dishonorable act of disloyalty to an ally at war,” Baram wrote. “These discriminatory actions amount to a disgraceful break with Britain’s proud tradition of tolerance, and plain decency.” He added that silencing Israeli voices at a time when the country is actively defending international security constitutes “nothing less than an act of self-sabotage of British security.”
A spokesperson for the British Ministry of Defense defended the decision, emphasizing that the college welcomes participants from many nations, provided they respect international humanitarian law. The spokesperson criticized Israel’s ongoing military operations in Gaza, calling instead for a diplomatic resolution that includes a ceasefire, the release of hostages, and expanded humanitarian aid to civilians in Gaza.
The RCDS exclusion reflects a growing strain in UK-Israel relations, already tense due to debates over recognition of a Palestinian state and responses to the Gaza conflict. Israeli officials have framed the decision as both a political and symbolic blow to bilateral defense cooperation, warning it could have broader implications for strategic ties between the two countries.
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Anti-Israel Protests Force Early End to Vuelta a Espana Cycle Race
Cycling – Vuelta a Espana – Stage 21 – Alalpardo to Madrid – Madrid, Spain – September 14, 2025 Protesters clash with police during Stage 21. Photo: REUTERS/Ana Beltran
Anti-Israel protests forced the abandonment of the Vuelta a Espana cycle race at its finale on Sunday, with Danish cyclist Jonas Vingegaard declared the winner as police sought to quell demonstrations against an Israeli team’s participation.
Protesters overturned metal barriers and occupied the Vuelta (Tour of Spain) race route at several points in the Spanish capital Madrid as police attempted to push them back.
“The race is over,” a spokesperson for the race organizers told Reuters.
The protests have targeted the Israel-Premier Tech team over Israel’s actions in Gaza. Some riders had threatened to quit last week as routes were blocked, causing some falls.
More than 1,000 police officers were deployed on Sunday as cyclists reached the final stage of the 21-day race in Madrid.
It had been due to end at 7 p.m. (1700 GMT).
Earlier in the day, Spain’s Socialist Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez said he admired the protesters.
“Today marks the end of the Vuelta,” Sanchez told a party rally in the southern city of Malaga.
“Our respect and recognition for the athletes and our admiration for the Spanish people who are mobilizing for just causes like Palestine.”
After the race was cancelled, clashes continued with protesters throwing bottles of water and other objects at police.
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Oct. 7 Documentary Wins People’s Choice Award in Toronto
A view of the Toronto area, which is home to Canada’s largest Jewish community. Photo: John Vetterli via Wikimedia Commons.
i24 News – A documentary chronicling retired Israeli General Noam Tibon’s daring rescue of his family during the Hamas attacks in 2023 has taken home the People’s Choice Award for best documentary at the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF).
“The Road Between Us: The Ultimate Rescue,” directed by Barry Avrich, depicts Tibon’s efforts amid the October 7 attacks, which left over 1,200 people dead and more than 250 abducted. The film has sparked heated debate, drawing both pro-Israel and pro-Palestinian demonstrations outside its screenings this week.
TIFF organizers confirmed the award via email Sunday morning, before CEO Cameron Bailey could present it during the festival’s ceremony at the TIFF Lightbox.
Avrich accepted the honor to subdued applause, thanking the festival for its support.
The documentary had previously faced a brief removal from TIFF’s schedule over security and rights concerns, a decision that drew criticism from politicians, Jewish organizations, and industry figures. The festival reinstated the film days later, with Bailey vowing clearer communication regarding programming choices.
Despite the protests, the film went on to screen as planned on Sunday afternoon. Some demonstrators had labeled the documentary “Israeli propaganda” without attending a showing.