Forty-eight Republican senators signed a letter on Friday urging President Joe Biden to end the “partial arms embargo” on Israel, given the threat the U.S. ally faces from Iran-backed terrorists.
The letter, signed by Sens. Tom Cotton (R-Arkansas) and James Risch (R-Idaho), calls for Biden to lift the arms embargo, which he has publicly declared in favor of the move. Hospitalized In a shocking interview with CNN in May, he spoke about his obligations to the Jewish state.
The letter reads:
Dear President Biden:
This weekend, Hezbollah fired an Iranian-made missile into northern Israel, killing 12 children and wounding dozens, the worst attack in the country since October 7. Ultimate responsibility for the attack lies with Hezbollah and the Iranian ayatollahs. But although the attack was funded by Tehran and carried out by Hezbollah, fears of your escalation have endangered Israel and emboldened our enemies.
We are writing to you again to protest your Administration’s imposition of a partial arms embargo on Israel. The Biden-Harris Administration’s actions run counter to a long history of strong military cooperation with Israel and call into question the credibility of the United States as a long-term security partner. Your Administration’s actions also run counter to the will of Congress as expressed in the recent supplemental bill that provides funding for emergency military assistance to Israel.
When Prime Minister Netanyahu publicly brought up the arms embargo in June, your administration categorically denied the accusation. You ignored congressional investigations, including Senator Marshall’s letter of May 6, 2024, Senator Ernst’s letter of May 6, 2024, Senator Risch’s letter of May 14, 2024, and Senator Cotton’s letter of June 20, 2024. All the while, you deliberately delayed the delivery of weapons, ammunition, and equipment to Israel. These include 120 mm tank rounds, 120 mm mortar rounds, light tactical vehicles, air-to-air missiles, F-15 and F-35 engines, Joint Direct Attack Munition Kits, 2,000-pound bombs, rifles, and guided missile systems. While your administration delayed, Hamas continued its war with Israel, the Houthis continued their attacks in the Red Sea, and Hezbollah continued its onslaught in northern Israel. “The Administration’s delaying tactics are endangering our greatest ally in the Middle East and putting the lives of American military personnel in the region at risk. I urge you to use all emergency powers to expedite the physical delivery to Israel of all weapons and ammunition authorized by Congress.
Your administration must immediately stop catering to Iran and its terrorist allies.
The only senator who did not sign the letter was Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.), who opposes most forms of foreign aid to anyone.
According to Michael Dolan, a Middle East expert at the Hudson Institute, the embargo comes in three forms: large bombs that are being intentionally withheld, shipments that have been approved by Congress but are being withheld by the Biden administration by not notifying Congress that they are ready to be shipped, and the Biden administration blocking arms deals between the State of Israel and U.S. private arms manufacturers.
Biden wants to use the partial arms embargo to prevent Israel from switching from defense against terrorists to attacking them.
Joel B. Pollack is executive editor of Breitbart News. Breitbart News Sunday The show airs Sunday nights from 7 to 10 p.m. (4 to 7 p.m. ET) on SiriusXM Patriot. He is the author of “Agenda: What Trump Should Do in His First 100 Days,” which is available for preorder on Amazon. He also wrote,Trumpian virtue: The lessons and legacy of Donald Trump’s presidency” is available on Audible. He is the 2018 recipient of the Robert Novak Journalism Alumni Fellowship. Follow him on Twitter. Joel Pollack.
