The Biden administration has come under fire recently for what some say has been sending contradictory messages on key subjects related to Israel, the United States’ largest ally in the Middle East.
During her daily briefing last week, Fox News White House correspondent Jackie Heinrich criticized White House press secretary Karine for the administration’s “slow steps” to prove its “ironclad commitment” to Israel.・I approached Mr. Jean-Pierre.[ing] Weapon sales. ”
Jean-Pierre reiterated, in part, that the U.S. commitment to Israel’s security remains “ironclad.”
Meanwhile, President Biden himself has said that if the IDF launches a substantive attack on the southern Gaza city of Rafah, “we will not supply weapons that have historically been used to deal with the city to deal with Rafah.” ” he swore. problem. “
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Several members of Congress have taken issue with the administration’s stance, including Rep. Mike Rogers (R-Ala.), chairman of the House Armed Services Committee, who said the president’s recent policies “weaken our allies and strengthen our enemies.” This is yet another short-sighted decision by Biden to encourage the United States and send a message that the United States cannot be trusted.”
“Our adversaries want nothing more than to drive a wedge between the United States and Israel,” Rogers told Fox News Digital in a statement Friday. “Israel has the right to protect itself from Hamas and Iran.”
Mr. Rogers’ counterpart, Senate Armed Services Committee member Roger Wicker (R-Mississippi), also criticized Mr. Biden in a May 8 speech. Associated Press reporting In response to Israel potentially deciding to launch an “all-out attack” on Rafah, the US said it had actually suspended bomb shipments.
“If Hamas gives up its weapons, the war will end, but if Israel gives up its weapons, it will end for Israel,” Wicker said.
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“Unfortunately, President Biden thinks the opposite way. One day he withheld arms from our most loyal allies, and the next he professed solidarity with the Jewish people.”Magnolia the state lawmaker added.
“You can’t have it both ways,” former National Security Council official Victoria Coates said of the administration’s conflicting messages.
“You have to pick a team, put on a jersey and go into battle, and the administration is trying very hard to satisfy both sides,” Coates said.
“And what they’ve accomplished is that both sides are very angry at them, which means this is just a huge failure on both the policy and political fronts.”
Two other Republican senators, Ted Budd (North Carolina) and Joni Ernst (Iowa), also contributed to the White House. detailed letter They want issue-specific answers about Biden’s comments on arms sales and Rafah.
Among the questions raised: What types of ammunition are reportedly being withheld, are the weapons being withheld part of the weapons directly authorized by Congress in recent additional spending? The demands included how the report would align with the president’s April 23 promise to “make sure it gets done.” Israel has what it needs to protect itself from Iran and Iranian-backed terrorists. ”
“Why did your administration not notify Congress of this decision to withhold aid to Israel?” Ernst and Budd asked in their letter.
“We must provide Israel with the weapons it needs to fight the Hamas terrorists who continue to hold Americans hostage. We call on your administration to immediately resume arms shipments to Israel starting today.”
In a statement, Budd told Fox News Digital that one of his constituents, Keith Siegel, remains held by Hamas along with seven other U.S. citizens.
“President Biden is making it difficult to ensure the freedom of hostages,” Budd said.
Another Republican, House Foreign Affairs Chairman Michael McCaul of Texas, called the threat of an arms embargo a “dangerous mistake” and “short-sighted.”
Former Reagan Justice Department chief of staff Mark Levin went so far as to say on Fox News’ “Life, Liberty & Levin” that Biden’s actions were renewing “an old blood libel against the Jewish people.” .
In the United States, Mr. Biden denounced the “violent rise of anti-Semitism in the United States” and tried to brush off remarks at a press briefing before saying, “You have the right to protest, but you do not have the right to cause chaos.” Stated. I also blame those who do not understand what is happening to the Palestinians…”
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The administration has been criticized for not taking a tougher stance or seeking law enforcement intervention against criminal activity on university campuses by some anti-Israel agitators.
In April, 27 Republican senators sent a letter to Attorney General Merrick Garland and Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona providing an update on efforts to curb “the outbreak of anti-Semitic and pro-terrorist mobs on college campuses.” requested.
“These pro-Hamas mobs have effectively shut down university campuses and literally chased Jewish students out of their schools,” the letter reads in part. “The Department of Education and federal law enforcement will immediately restore order, prosecute the rioters who perpetuated the violence and intimidation against Jewish students, and revoke the visas of all foreign nationals (including international students) who participated in the promotion of terrorism.” We must take action and hold school administrators accountable for standing by and not protecting our students.”
In response to the protests, Congressman Michael Lawler (New York), whose district is home to 90,000 Jewish Americans, drafted the Anti-Semitism Awareness Act, with some “no votes.” It passed the House of Representatives by a vote of 320-91. The basis on which this bill is said to violate First Amendment rights. Lawler’s office did not respond to requests for comment on this story.
Fox News Digital reached out to the White House for comment, but did not receive a response by press time.
Fox News’ Jackie Heinrich, Bradford Betts, Greg Norman and Andrew Mark Miller contributed to this report..
