Attempt to block Israel weapons sales fails in US Senate

An attempt to force a vote to block US weapons transfers to Israel failed in the Senate on Thursday.

Independent Senator Bernie Sanders attempted to bring forward two joint resolutions of disapproval (JRD) to block $8.8bn worth of offensive weapons sales to Israel that were already approved by the Trump administration.

Only 15 senators, including former vice presidential candidate Tim Kaine and former presidential hopeful Elizabeth Warren, voted to move forward with the vote. 

There are 100 senators in the upper chamber of Congress.