U.S. Sen. Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.) threw her support behind three resolutions late Wednesday night to block the sale of U.S. military weapons to Israel as that nation wages a war against the terrorists of Hamas and Hezbollah.
The three resolutions were sponsored by Vermont Socialist Sen. Bernie Sanders, and they were overwhelmingly defeated by the Senate.
Shaheen has repeatedly supported policies like the Obama administration’s Iran deal that aided the Islamist regime in Tehran, which is the primary sponsor of terror targeting the nation of Israel. She was one of just 18 U.S. Senators who supported Sanders’ resolutions.
“I am holding a vote on the floor of the U.S. Senate to block the sale of offensive arms to Israel,” Sanders posted on social media. “The extremist Netanyahu government is breaking U.S. and international law. Every Senator who believes in the rule of law should vote for these resolutions.”
One resolution specifically targeted the sale of 120-millimeter tank rounds. Another was directed at the sale of 120 mm high-explosive mortar rounds. The third was a proposal to block the sale of joint direct attack munitions (JDAMs).
Two of the resolutions failed 18-79 and one 17-80. Every Republican voted no, as did most Democrats.
Shaheen supported all three. Her fellow Granite Stater Sen. Maggie Hassan (D) joined the majority to defeat them.
The current war began when Hamas launched a deadly attack from inside Gaza against civilians in Israel on October 7, 2023. Hezbollah promptly joined in with daily rocket attacks from within Lebanon.
According to Jewish Insider, Shaheen released a statement defending her votes:
“For months I have expressed my concern about the dire humanitarian situation in Gaza and continued to push for a ceasefire that ends the human suffering and brings home the remaining hostages,” Shaheen said. “While I will continue to support Israel’s ability to defend itself from terrorist attacks, I voted in favor of the Joint Resolutions today because I believe the Netanyahu government needs to change course on the conduct of the war in Gaza.”
The New Hampshire Democrat is set to become the ranking member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee in January.
Shaheen’s current term is up in 2026, and New Hampshire politics is rife with speculation about whether the elderly senator (she’ll be 78 in January) will seek another six-year term. Some politicos speculate her votes against Israel — a minority position in American politics according to polls — is a sign she’s not planning to run again. Others see the vote as an attempt to appease the progressive wing of her party and avoid a primary.
Either way, any Republican running for the Senate seat in 2026 is likely to make support for Israel an issue in the race.
Shaheen has also taken the unusual step of promoting election-denial falsehoods in the Pennsylvania U.S. Senate race. She has sent fundraising emails and posted social media messages on behalf of fellow Democrat Sen. Bob Casey, claiming the race isn’t over. In fact, both the Associated Press and Decision Desk HQ have already called the race for Republican Dave McCormick.
“She used to be the sane one. Now she’s stealing elections and fighting the Zionist occupation,” said one state house insider late Wednesday night.
Tracy Richmond, chair of the board for the Jewish Federation of New Hampshire, said she was disappointed by the senator’s actions.
“To say Senator Shaheen’s vote is disappointing would be a huge understatement,” Richmond told NHJournal.
“Israel is fighting a war with Hamas it did not start and does not want, while also fighting a war on their northern border. And the fact that there are still American hostages being held in Gaza and our own country is holding a vote that would surely contribute to their demise is incomprehensible.”
