Senate Democrats stopped a defense bill that would have deepened US-Israel military ties, a rare win for critics of Israel aid and a setback for Netanyahu.

• A defense spending bill included provisions to require closer joint military cooperation with Israel and force the US to share more intelligence with it.
• Netanyahu has publicly pushed this, framing it as moving "from aid to partnership" while still wanting 10 more years of money and free access to US military technology.
• Bernie Sanders, Elizabeth Warren, and Chris Van Hollen led a letter urging a no vote; the measure fell short of the 60 votes needed to advance, 50-46.
• Critics warn Israel has already blocked the US from acting in its own interest, like sending Israeli co-produced weapons to Ukraine.
• In the House, an effort to cut aid to Israel still lost badly, 314-104, though that was the closest such vote yet.

Outlook: The provisions could return since they are tucked into a "must-pass" defense bill, so the fight is likely to continue.