Former US National Security Adviser backs halting US weapons sales to Israel

Former US National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan said on Wednesday that he now supports withholding American weapons sales to Israel, marking a major reversal after spending 18 months lobbying Democrats to block such measures and backing much of Israel's genocide in Gaza.

“I have in fact told a number of members who were thinking about the votes on these resolutions that the situation as it stands today, following the breakdown of the cease-fire in March, means that a vote to withhold weapons to Israel is a totally credible position. That is a position I would support,” Sullivan said on The Bulwark podcast.

He was referring to a resolution introduced by Senator Bernie Sanders, which saw more than half of Senate Democrats backing restrictions on arms sales to Israel for the first time. Sullivan and the White House had previously pushed Democrats to oppose Sanders’ earlier attempt during the Biden administration’s final months.