As the Jewish state faces a 7 front war for her survival the Administration's behavior is quite simply - REPREHENSIBLE. We thank the Republican Senators for their leadership and call on every Democratic Senator to join this critical clarion call. The Biden Administration must reverse this policy which is dangerous to both Israel and the United States. The Biden Administration must stop accommodating Iran and its terrorist allies - NOW.
STOP IRAN NOW Via Emily Jacobs - Jewish Insider
August 4, 2024
Senate Republicans sent a letter to President Joe Biden on Friday accusing his administration of establishing a “partial arms embargo against Israel” in its war against Hamas and Hezbollah and urging him to shift course.
The letter, led by Sen. Tom Cotton (R-AR) and signed by every member of the Senate GOP Conference except Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY), references 10 weapons and equipment sales and shipments that have allegedly been delayed, and points to four instances where the administration “ignored congressional inquiries.”
“We write once again to protest your administration’s partial arms embargo against Israel. The actions of the Biden-Harris administration run counter to our long history of robust military cooperation with Israel and cast doubt upon the reliability of the United States as a long-term security partner. Your actions also violate the will of Congress as expressed in the recent supplemental that funded emergency military support to Israel,” the senators said.
“When Prime Minister Netanyahu publicly raised the weapons hold in June, your administration adamantly denied the accusation,” they continued. “All the while, you were deliberately delaying the delivery of weapons, ammunition, and equipment to Israel. These include 120 mm tank ammunition, 120 mm 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.”
The senators argued that such delays in providing critical weapons systems and other equipment undermines Israel’s security and emboldens Iran and its proxies in the region.
“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,” the senators wrote.
“We urge you to use every available emergency authority to expedite the physical delivery of all weapons and ammunition to Israel that have been approved by Congress. Your administration must stop accommodating Iran and its terrorist allies now,” they added.
They also dismissed the administration’s concerns about escalation in the region, arguing that such fears were negatively impacting Israel’s ability to address the current threats.
“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,” they wrote. “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.”
Co-leading the letter were the top Republicans on leading committees, including Sen. Marco Rubio (R-FL), ranking member of the Senate Intelligence Committee; Sen. Jim Risch (R-ID), ranking member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee; Sen. Roger Wicker (R-MS), ranking member of the Senate Armed Services Committee; Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC), ranking member of the Senate Judiciary Committee; and Sen. Tim Scott (R-SC), ranking member of the Senate Banking Committee.
Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY), Senate Minority Whip John Thune (R-SD) and Senate GOP Conference Chairman John Barrasso (R-WY) also signed on.
Full text of Cotton Press Release, Letter and List of Signatories:
COTTON, 47 SENATE GOP COLLEAGUES TO BIDEN-HARRIS ADMINISTRATION: DELAYING WEAPONS TO ISRAEL UNDERMINES OUR ALLY, ACCOMMODATES IRAN
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASEContact: Caroline Tabler or Patrick McCann (202) 224-2353August 2, 2024
Cotton, 47 Senate GOP Colleagues to Biden-Harris Administration: Delaying Weapons to Israel Undermines Our Ally, Accommodates Iran
Washington, D.C. — Senator Tom Cotton (R-Arkansas) today led 47 of his Senate Republican colleagues in sending a letter to the Biden-Harris administration, protesting its partial arms embargo against Israel. The senators urged the White House to cease accommodating Iran, stop jeopardizing the lives of American servicemembers, and to deliver the necessary weapons systems to Israel.
Co-leading the letter were Senate Foreign Relations Committee Ranking Member Jim Risch (R-Idaho), Senate Select Committee on Intelligence Ranking Member Marco Rubio (R-Florida), Senate Banking Committee Ranking Member Tim Scott (R-South Carolina), Senate Judiciary Committee Ranking Member Lindsey Graham (R-South Carolina), and Senate Armed Services Committee Ranking Member Roger Wicker (R-Mississippi).
Additional signatories included Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Kentucky) and Senators John Barrasso (R-Wyoming), Marsha Blackburn (R-Tennessee), John Boozman (R-Arkansas), Mike Braun (R-Indiana), Katie Britt (R-Alabama), Ted Budd (R-North Carolina), Bill Cassidy (R-Louisiana), Shelley Moore Capito (R-West Virginia), Susan Collins (R-Maine), John Cornyn (R-Texas), Kevin Cramer (R-North Dakota), Mike Crapo (R-Idaho), Ted Cruz (R-Texas), Steve Daines (R-Montana), Joni Ernst (R-Iowa), Deb Fischer (R-Nebraska), Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), Bill Hagerty (R-Tennessee), Josh Hawley (R-Missouri), John Hoeven (R-North Dakota), Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-Mississippi), Ron Johnson (R-Wisconsin), John Kennedy (R-Louisiana), James Lankford (R-Oklahoma), Mike Lee (R-Utah), Cynthia Lummis (R-Wyoming), Roger Marshall (R-Kansas), Jerry Moran (R-Kansas), Markwayne Mullin (R-Oklahoma), Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska), Pete Ricketts (R-Nebraska), Mitt Romney (R-Utah), Mike Rounds (R-South Dakota), Eric Schmitt (R-Missouri), Rick Scott (R-Florida), Dan Sullivan (R-Alaska), John Thune (R-South Dakota), Thom Tillis (R-North Carolina), Tommy Tuberville (R-Alabama), J.D. Vance (R-Ohio), and Todd Young (R-Indiana).
In part, the senators wrote:
“When Prime Minister Netanyahu publicly raised the weapons hold in June, your administration adamantly denied the accusation. You ignored Congressional inquiries, including a May 6, 2024, letter from Senator Marshall, a May 6, 2024, letter from Senator Ernst, a May 14, 2024, letter from Senator Risch and a June 20, 2024, letter from Senator Cotton. All the while, you were deliberately delaying the delivery of weapons, ammunition, and equipment to Israel. These include 120 mm tank ammunition, 120 mm 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.”
Full text of the letter may be found below.
August 2, 2024
President Joseph R. Biden
The White House
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW
Washington, DC 20500
Dear President Biden:
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 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. The actions of the Biden-Harris administration run counter to our long history of robust military cooperation with Israel and cast doubt upon the reliability of the United States as a long-term security partner. Your actions also violate the will of Congress as expressed in the recent supplemental that funded emergency military support to Israel.
When Prime Minister Netanyahu publicly raised the weapons hold in June, your administration adamantly denied the accusation. You ignored Congressional inquiries, including a May 6, 2024, letter from Senator Marshall, a May 6, 2024, letter from Senator Ernst, a May 14, 2024, letter from Senator Risch and a June 20, 2024, letter from Senator Cotton. All the while, you were deliberately delaying the delivery of weapons, ammunition, and equipment to Israel. These include 120 mm tank ammunition, 120 mm 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. We urge you to use every available emergency authority to expedite the physical delivery of all weapons and ammunition to Israel that have been approved by Congress.
Your administration must stop accommodating Iran and its terrorist allies now.
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