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Senate Republicans blast Biden over ‘arms embargo’ on Israel

Biden administration has ‘left Israel exposed,’ emboldened enemies of the US, Senate Republicans charge, accusing White House of withholding weapons from Israel during wartime.

By David Rosenberg, World Israel News

Senate Republicans lambasted the Biden administration, accusing the White House of imposing a partial arms embargo on Israel during wartime, and interfering with Israel’s efforts to conduct its war against the Hamas and Hezbollah terrorist organizations, as well as their patron, Iran.

Forty-eight of the Senate’s delegation of 49 Republicans signed onto a letter penned by Arkansas Senator Tom Cotton and co-led by ranking Senate Republicans including Foreign Relations Committee Ranking Member Jim Risch (R-ID), Senate Select Committee on Intelligence Ranking Member Marco Rubio (R-FL), Senate Banking Committee Ranking Member Tim Scott (R-SC), Senate Judiciary Committee Ranking Member Lindsey Graham (R-SC), and Senate Armed Services Committee Ranking Member Roger Wicker (R-MS).

Only Kentucky Senator Rand Paul declined to sign onto the letter.

The missive, addressed to President Joe Biden, protested restrictions imposed by the White House on arms transfers to Israel, accusing the White House of violating “the will of Congress” and supplemental spending bills providing aid to Israel.

“This weekend, Hezbollah fired Iranian-made missiles into northern Israel, murdering 12 children and injuring dozens in the single deadliest attack on that part of the country since October 7,” the senators wrote, referencing the July 27th Hezbollah rocket attack on a soccer field in the Druze town of Majdal Shams in the Golan Heights.

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“The ultimate responsibility for this attack rests with Hezbollah and the ayatollahs in Iran. However, while Tehran financed the attack and Hezbollah conducted it, your fear of escalation has left Israel exposed and our enemies emboldened.”

“We write once again to protest your administration’s partial arms embargo against Israel.”

“Your actions also violate the will of Congress as expressed in the recent supplemental that funded emergency military support to Israel.”

Republican lawmakers noted public statements by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu accusing the Biden administration of withholding weapons from Israel during the war on Hamas, and reports that the White House has slowwalked or restricted transfers of various weapons systems and ammunition.

“These include 120 mm tank ammunition, 120mm mortar ammunition, light tactical vehicles, air to air missiles, F-15s, F-35 engines, joint direct attack munition kits, 2,000 pound bombs, rifles, and guided missile systems.”

“While your administration delays, Hamas continues to wage war against Israel, the Houthis continue to attack in the Red Sea, and Hezbollah continues its onslaught in northern Israel. Your stalling tactics are endangering our greatest ally in the Middle East and jeopardizing the lives of our American servicemembers stationed in the region.”

“Your administration must stop accommodating Iran and its terrorist allies now.”