Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) says Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) is the only senator holding out on a resolution affirming U.S. support for Israel, though he expressed hope the measure will pass the Senate soon.
Schumer, the highest-ranking Jewish leader in Congress in American history, said all 99 other senators have co-sponsored the resolution.
He predicted the Senate will pass the resolution he has sponsored with Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.), Sen. Ben Cardin (D-Md.) and Sen. Jim Risch (R-Idaho) as soon as Wednesday afternoon or Thursday morning.
“Our resolution has overwhelming — nearly unanimous — bipartisan support in the Senate. It is co-sponsored by 99 Senators, Sen. Paul being the outstanding one who hasn’t,” Schumer announced on the Senate floor.
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The resolution states the Senate stands firmly with Israel and firmly against Hamas.
Paul delayed consideration of $1 billion in funding for Israel’s Iron Dome missile defense system in 2021.
The Kentucky senator also placed a hold on a foreign aid package for Israel in 2018.
He argued at the time that if Congress were to send aid to Israel, it should be “limited in time and scope so we aren’t doing it forever.”
He also called for offsetting its cost by cutting aid to countries that are hostile to Israeli and U.S. interests.