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President Joe Biden announced on Wednesday that he would halt some shipments of American weapons to Israel if Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu orders a major invasion of the city of Rafah in Gaza. In an exclusive interview on CNN's "Erin Burnett OutFront," Biden acknowledged that these weapons, including 2,000-pound bombs, have been used in operations that resulted in civilian casualties in Gaza.
"Civilians have been killed in Gaza as a consequence of those bombs and other ways in which they go after population centers," Biden told Erin Burnett, pointing to his decision last week to pause shipments of these heavy bombs.
In a contentious response to Biden's recent decisions, the House Foreign Affairs Committee advanced a bill on Wednesday that seeks to circumnavigate Biden's weapons pause by forcing the administration to transfer the stalled arms to Israel. This alternative bill, which is a narrower rebuke of Biden's policy than a previous bill passed by the House, managed to secure nine Democratic votes, reflecting a bipartisan commitment to ensuring continued military support for Israel.
Less than a day before the Biden administration announced its intent to cut off U.S. arms sales to Israel, it issued a sanctions waiver to bypass congressional prohibitions on selling arms to Arab nations that boycott Israel, including Hamas ally Qatar and Iran-controlled Lebanon. The State Department notified Congress of its intent to extend this waiver until April 30, 2025, to maintain regional stability, despite these nations' association with terror groups like Hamas and Hezbollah.
- The Biden administration justified the waiver as being in "U.S. national interest" and necessary for regional stability.
- Critics, such as Sen. Ted Cruz (R., Texas), argue the administration's actions punish allies like Israel while aiding its enemies.
- Biden threatened to freeze bomb and artillery shell shipments to Israel if it proceeds with an operation in Rafah, despite pledging commitment to Israel's security and defense.
Biden and Obamas have a complicated relationship with the middle EAST.
Biden's fluctuating stance has been particularly notable. One moment, he's pausing the shipment of offensive bombs to Israel; the next, he's approving other arms deals. His most recent threat to cut off more weapon shipments specifically concerns those that are offensive in nature, contingent upon Israel's military actions in Rafah. These moves come at a time when U.S.-Israel tensions have been heightened due to Netanyahu's conduct of the war in Gaza, making Biden's shifting policies difficult to track.
payload munitions" and would not supply the additional weapons and artillery shells required for an operation in Rafah. Biden's warning follows weeks of U.S. lobbying efforts urging Israel to reconsider its plans for an incursion in the contentious area.
This multifaceted approach raises significant questions on Capitol Hill regarding the balance between supporting regional stability and adhering to long-standing commitments to allies like Israel. Lawmakers are grappling with the implications of waiving sanctions on Israel-boycotting countries while simultaneously restricting military support to Israel based on its strategic decisions.
The administration’s decisions will likely have lasting impacts on U.S. relations with both Israel and its regional partners. As these developments unfold, the Biden administration faces the challenge of navigating complex geopolitical dynamics while maintaining its stated commitment to Israel’s defense and broader regional interests.
President Biden's dual approach of pressuring Israel regarding its Gaza strategy while waiving sanctions on nations boycotting Israel underscores the intricate balance of U.S. foreign policy in the Middle East. As these policies face heightened scrutiny from Congress and observers, the administration's justifications and future actions will continue to be pivotal in shaping U.S. strategic outcomes in the region.
"IntelBrief: Biden Administration Shifts in U.S. Middle East Policy - The Soufan Center", thesoufancenter.org, Unknown, https://thesoufancenter.org/intelbrief-biden-administration-shifts-in-u-s-middle-east-policy/, Web, Accessed 10. May 2024
"President Biden's Pragmatic Middle East Policy | Opinion", newsweek.com, Unknown, https://www.newsweek.com/president-bidens-pragmatic-middle-east-policy-opinion-1862044, Web, Accessed 10. May 2024
"Democrats consider changing course on Israel support | On Point", wbur.org, Unknown, https://www.wbur.org/onpoint/2024/04/10/democrats-israel-support-biden-military-aid, Web, Accessed 10. May 2024
"How Biden could get tough on Israel -- if that's what he wants - Vox", vox.com, Unknown, https://www.vox.com/world-politics/24101020/biden-netanyahu-israel-gaza-pressure-leverage-arms-un, Web, Accessed 10. May 2024
The same week that Joe Biden cut off military aid to Israel, he announced that he would allow arms sales to Qatar, Lebanon, and Iraq.
— Ted Cruz (@tedcruz) May 13, 2024
Hamas's leadership is headquartered in Qatar.
Biden's insane policy is to arm Israel's enemies while disarming Israel. https://t.co/DgSUKdIVbP pic.twitter.com/iAAZA38aXm
The same week that Joe Biden cut off military aid to Israel, he announced that he would allow arms sales to Qatar, Lebanon, and Iraq.
— Ted Cruz (@tedcruz) May 13, 2024
Hamas's leadership is headquartered in Qatar.
Biden's insane policy is to arm Israel's enemies while disarming Israel. https://t.co/DgSUKdIVbP pic.twitter.com/iAAZA38aXm
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