The US Senate on Tuesday passed a bill urging President Trump to reverse his plan to withdraw American troops from Syria and Afghanistan. The same bill also boosts Israel’s defense capabilities. The bill passed with a 77-23 vote. Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky) said the bill “represents the broad consensus of this body about our nation’s responsibilities as an ally and a partner.”
The bill was rushed in just before President Trump’s State of the Union address, in which he insisted on his plan to withdraw US troops from Syria and Afghanistan.
The new, three-part legislation rebukes Trump for the planned withdrawals, bolsters the defense of Israel and Jordan, and allows states to stop doing business with companies that support the BDS movement. The House version includes only the first two parts, as the Democratic majority views the anti-BDS segment as an assault on free speech.
