Dems block Senate bill on Israel boycotts, citing shutdown

WASHINGTON — Senate Republicans' first bill of the new Congress was intended to insert the legislative branch into President Donald Trump's Middle East policy — but also to drive a wedge between centrist and liberal Democrats over attitudes toward Israel.

The bipartisan package backed by Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., had initially drawn widespread support ahead of Tuesday's vote. It included measures supporting Israel and Jordan and slapping sanctions on Syrians involved in war crimes at a time of growing unease in Congress over the Trump administration's shifts in the region. But Democrats are split over the addition of Republican Sen. Marco Rubio's "Combatting BDS Act," which seeks to counter the global Boycott, Divest and Sanctions movement against Israel over its treatment of Palestinians and the settlements.

For now, the package has stalled on a vote of 56-44, not enough to clear the 60-vote hurdle needed to advance.

Coming amid the partial government shutdown, Democrats said they will block the bill until government is reopened. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer opposed proceeding to the legislation. Other Democratic senators who supported the substance of the bill followed suit.

Sen. Ben Cardin, D-Md., tweeted that the Senate "should not take up any bills unrelated to reopening the government" until the shutdown is resolved.

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/politics/dems-block-senate-bill-on-israel-boycotts-citing-shutdown/ar-BBRXeve?li=BBnbcA1