Senate passes resolution supporting Israel

The Senate passed a resolution “standing with Israel against terrorism” by a 97-0 vote on Thursday — marking another effort in the chamber to stand by the American ally in its war against Hamas.

The three senators who did not vote were Laphonza Butler (D-Calif.), Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) and Tim Scott (R-S.C.). Butler has been out this week after testing positive for Covid. Durbin is recovering from knee surgery.

The overwhelming support for the resolution is no surprise: 99 out of 100 senators signed on to it earlier this week. Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) was the lone senator to withhold his signature, though he did ultimately vote for the resolution.

“I wanted to make sure that the resolution would not be misinterpreted as an authorization to use military force," Paul told POLITICO on Thursday.

"We’ve made it a point in recent years to add a clause that says nothing in this resolution is to convey authorization for the use of military force, because I think going to war is a very important vote and shouldn't be done by a resolution,” he added.