Several House Democrats on Thursday defied the White House to support a bill that accuses President Biden of withholding offensive aid from Israel.
The Israel Security Assistance and Assistance Act condemns the president’s stance on Israel’s invasion of Gaza and forces the Biden administration to quickly send arms shipments already approved by Congress.
The bill passed by a vote of 224-187, with 16 Democrats joining 208 Republicans in pushing the bill. Democrats who supported it include Rep. Tom Suozzi of New York. Darren Soto, Florida State. Ritchie Torres, New York; Marie Grusenkamp Perez, Democrat, Washington. Texas Democrat Henry Cuellar and others.
Three Republicans also voted against the bill. Congressman Warren Davidson (R-Ohio). Marjorie Taylor Greene, Georgia. and Thomas Massie, Republican of Kentucky.
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President Biden’s threat to support attacks on Israel was condemned in a House vote Thursday. (Getty Images)
House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Michael McCaul (R-Texas) said, “President Biden’s decision to withhold weapons that I, the Speaker, and ranking members have authorized, and that Congress has appropriated, is contrary to the intent of Congress. It’s tantamount to an embargo.” invoice.
“Red lines are for enemies. Red lines are not for allies and friends. But that is exactly what this administration is doing to Israel.”
The bill would also withhold funding from the Secretary of Defense, Secretary of State, and National Security Council if arms aid is delayed.
“House Democrats would rather stand in solidarity with terrorists than support our most powerful ally in the Middle East,” House Minority Leader Tom Emmer (R-Minn.), the No. 3 Republican in the House, told Fox News Digital. “I made it clear that there was,” he said. .
But opponents of the bill argued it could set a dangerous precedent that would limit the president’s ability to conduct foreign policy.
This comes after President Biden suspended shipments of bombs from Israel due to concerns that they might be used in Rafah, and that the United States would not send offensive weapons if they were used in populated areas. This comes after he faced bipartisan backlash from pro-Israel lawmakers for warning Israel. It is located in the southern part of the Gaza Strip. But Thursday’s vote came just days after Biden announced he would move forward with a $1 billion arms shipment to Israel, according to reports.
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Speaker Mike Johnson introduced several pro-Israel bills in the House. (Getty Images)
Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer of New York has already said he won’t take up the bill, citing the White House’s threat to veto it if it reaches Biden’s desk.
“This bill is a misguided response to a deliberate distortion of the administration’s approach to Israel,” the White House said earlier this week. “The president has made clear: We will always ensure Israel has what it needs to defend itself. ” he said.
“Furthermore, if enacted, this bill would prevent the United States from coordinating its security assistance posture to Israel in any way, including in response to unforeseen emergency needs, even if Israel and the United States agree that: “Military needs are changing, and supplies should change accordingly.”
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A significant number of House Democrats, led by Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries of New York, rejected the House Republican bill. (Getty Images)
House Democratic leaders also actively encouraged their caucus to vote against the bill.
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Israel is proving to be a politically thorny issue for Democrats, with a growing number of lawmakers expressing concern about Israel’s invasion of Gaza in response to the Oct. 7 Hamas terrorist attack.
It revealed a rift between more moderate, traditional Democrats’ views on the U.S.-Israel relationship and progressives who are increasingly critical of that close relationship.
