Adopted by the 34th LD District Democrats on September 10, 2025
Resolution Regarding Washington State US Senators’ Votes on Arming Israel in Conflict with Palestinians
WHEREAS many experts, including Israeli human rights organizations, academics, and politicians, have
concluded that Israel is committing genocide and/or war crimes against the Palestinian people, practicing
apartheid, and currently using weapons provided by the US to induce famine by targeting food sites and
healthcare facilities; and [1]
WHEREAS Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is wanted by the International Criminal Court to answer
to charges of war crimes and crimes against humanity, including the use of starvation as a method of warfare;
and [2]
WHEREAS the Washington State Democratic Platform states “Palestinians, like all other peoples, have the right
to self-determination, to life, liberty, security; freedom from torture, cruelty, degrading treatment, arbitrary arrest,
detention, or exile; and every other right established by the 1948 UN Universal Declaration of Human Rights
(UDHR),” and, in 2024, Washington Democrats overwhelmingly passed resolutions at our convention to halt
military support for Israel and restore humanitarian aid to Gaza, and the Washington State Democratic Central
Committee passed a resolution with strong support condemning Israel’s siege on Gaza and calling for the
re-funding of UNRWA; and [3]
WHEREAS, on July 30, 2025, Sen. Cantwell voted to continue arming Israel with weapons, opposed two
resolutions which would have ended the supply of arms to Israel and the perpetuation of the forced famine in
Gaza, breaking with a majority of Democrats in the US Senate (27-17 and 24-20), while Senator Murray sided
with the majority of Senate Democrats by voting against continuing to arm Israel with weapons; and [4]
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED the 34th District Democrats condemn Senator Maria Cantwell’s vote to continue
sending weapons to Israel while it is carrying out a genocide against the Palestinian people, despite the
overwhelming support for a ceasefire and arms embargo throughout the Democratic Party statewide,
recognizing that it is already illegal for the US to provide military assistance to countries blocking humanitarian
aid (US Foreign Assistance Act, Section 620 I); [5] and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED the 34th District Democrats appreciate Senator Patty Murray’s vote to stop sending
weapons to Israel while it is carrying out a genocide against the Palestinian people, and urge Senators Cantwell
and Murray and the Washington State Democratic Party to act now and support the liberation of the Palestinian
people, end the apartheid regime, and recognize of a Palestinian state; and
BE IT FINALLY RESOLVED the 34th District Democrats request that the Washington State Democratic Party
urgently consider and support this resolution at their September 2025 meeting.
Submitted by 34th District Democratic member, Steve Butts, August 29, 2025
[1] See, e.g., Our Genocide, B’Tselem, July 2025; Omer Bartov, I’m a Genocide Scholar. I know It When I See It., New York Times, 15 July 2025; Ehud Olmert, Enough is Enough. Israel is Committing War Crimes, Haaretz, 27 May 2025; World
Court Finds Israel Responsible for Apartheid, Human Rights Watch, 19 July 2024; Israel’s apartheid against
Palestinians, Amnesty International, 1 February 2022; The Israeli Occupation of the West Bank and the Crime of
Apartheid: Legal Opinion, Yesh Din, June 2020.
[2] Arrest Warrant, International Criminal Court, 21 November 2024.
[3] Jerry Cornfield, Washington Democratic Party backs ending U.S. aid to Israel until ceasefire with Hamas, Washington
State Standard, 24 June 2024; Ceasefire Democrats, Washington State Democratic Party’s CEASEFIRE resolution
passed on January 28, 2024.
[4] Roll Call Vote 119th Congress – 1st Session, S.J.Res. 41 and S.J.Res. 34. censuring Senator Maria Cantwell,
commending Senator Patty Murray, and demanding both senators take concrete action for Palestinian liberation
[5] Most Americans believe countries should recognize Palestinian state, Reuters/Ipsos poll finds, Reuters; 2025-08-20.
Letter to the Washington State Democratic Central Committee
The 34th Legislative District Democrats hereby submit our Resolution Regarding US Senator Votes on
Arming Israel in Conflict with Palestinians for urgent consideration at the September 2025 meeting of
the Washington State Democratic Central Committee.
This resolution addresses a matter of conscience, accountability, and alignment with our Party’s
stated values. On July 30, 2025, Senator Cantwell voted to continue arming Israel while its
government stands accused by international bodies of genocide, war crimes, and crimes against
humanity — including the deliberate use of starvation as a weapon of war. In contrast, Senator
Murray voted to halt arms shipments, standing with the majority of Senate Democrats and with the
broad grassroots consensus in Washington State.
With this vote occurring so close to our organization’s August meeting, we did not have time to
appropriately process this resolution in accordance with our Bylaws until our September 10 meeting.
We request that the Washington State Democratic Central Committee recognize that the urgency of
this resolution lies in the need to hold our elected officials accountable at a time when their decisions
carry life-or-death consequences for millions. While we commend Senator Murray for her principled
stance, Senator Cantwell’s vote undermines our Party’s credibility and betrays the will of her
constituents. As Democrats, we must not shrink from speaking truth to power within our own ranks.
Palestinians have the right to life, liberty, and security, and the United States must not arm
governments engaged in systematic violations of international law. Washington Democrats have
already urged overwhelmingly that we halt military support for Israel and restore humanitarian aid.
Senator Cantwell’s vote directly contravenes these commitments.
Adopting this resolution at the September meeting will send a clear message: Washington
Democrats expect their elected officials to uphold human rights, international law, and the values of
our platform — even when doing so requires political courage. It is only through such accountability
that our Party can maintain the trust of its grassroots and credibly advocate for justice both here and
abroad.
We urge the WSDCC to advance this resolution without delay. The stakes are too high, the human
cost too great, for silence or half-measures.
In solidarity,
Jordan Crawley
Chair, 34th District Democrats