Staff Reports
Senate Republicans are working to find ways to counter President Joe Biden’s threat to withhold military aid to Israel amidst growing tensions over the conflict in Gaza. Biden has pledged to stop a shipment of large bombs to dissuade Israel from launching a military offensive in Rafah, seeking to prevent civilian casualties in the densely populated area. GOP senators, led by Senator Lindsey Graham, are speaking out against Biden’s actions, expressing frustration over his handling of the situation and arguing that it undermines Congress.
Criticism from Republican senators spans across the party’s ideological spectrum, with Senator Susan Collins highlighting the lack of communication with key congressional committees regarding the decision. Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell emphasized the potential consequences of Biden’s choice, suggesting that it may favor leftist political interests over supporting an ally under attack. The Republicans view Biden’s move as prolonging Israel’s conflict with Hamas and potentially aiding the terrorist group, leading to accusations of betrayal and a violation of the legislation approved by Congress.
Republicans seek tools to force Biden to send weapons to Israel ~ https://t.co/JdfW1oRo2m
— MikeKirby (@mikekirbyone) May 10, 2024
Senator Tom Cotton characterized Biden’s position as favoring a Hamas victory, while Senator Graham expressed concern that the president’s actions could have negative implications for innocent lives and the retrieval of hostages held by Hamas. The Republicans drew parallels between Biden’s actions and the circumstances that led to the impeachment of former President Donald Trump, likening Biden’s holding of military aid to Ukraine with his stance on Israel.
In contrast to Biden’s approach, Republicans pointed to historical examples such as the use of atomic bombs during World War II to justify the necessity of supporting Israel’s actions in the face of Hamas aggression. They criticized the administration’s equivocation in addressing the conflict and framed it as contradictory to the decisive actions taken in the past. Overall, Senate Republicans are vehemently opposed to President Biden’s stance on withholding military aid to Israel and are actively working to counter it.
