Anti-BDS bill advanced by Senate, U.S.-Israel security ties boosted

"The U.S. Senate took a step closer toward passing a bill that will tackle the anti-BDS movement in America, boost security cooperation with Israel and Jordan as well as increase sanctions on Syria.

The Republican-introduced legislation had been on standstill amid a government sanction. On Monday, a major procedural hurdle was passed, allowing the bill to move forward.

With the vote of 74-19, the bill is likely to pass in the Senate when the actual vote takes place later in January.

Senators who voted against the motion included Kirsten Gillibrand, Bernie Sanders, Elizabeth Warren.

This is the fourth vote since Republican Senator Marco Rubio of Florida introduced the bill at the beginning of the new congress.

Democrats, including those supportive of the legislation, refused to vote to proceed with any legislation of any kind throughout the historic government shutdown that endured through last week.

Now that the shutdown is over, Rubio and his GOP colleagues reintroduced the bill for a cloture vote..."