US Senate Democrats block defence bill over Iran war, Israel integration

Key Points:

• US Senate Democrats blocked debate on the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), opposing President Trump's military actions against Iran and provisions enhancing US-Israel military integration.
• The Senate vote was 50-46, falling short of the 60 votes needed to advance the $1.15 trillion defense budget bill, marking a rare defeat for a must-pass legislation.
• Democrats, led by Chuck Schumer, criticized the bill for enabling Trump’s unauthorized war on Iran and objected to measures deepening military and intelligence cooperation with Israel, including a controversial "data fusion" provision.
• A coalition of civil liberty and antiwar groups urged opposition to the NDAA unless amendments barred funding for the Iran conflict, citing Congress’s constitutional authority over war decisions.
• The opposition reflects shifting Democratic attitudes toward Israel, with support dropping significantly ahead of the midterms, as evidenced by a recent poll showing Israel’s favorability among Democrats falling from 59% in 2018 to 22% in 2024.