Hagerty Slams Biden for Blocking Arms to Israel: “Get Out of Israel’s Way
Tennessee GOP Senator Bill Hagerty has criticized the Biden administration for allegedly withholding already Congress-approved military aid to Israel. This criticism aligns with claims by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu that the U.S. had not fulfilled formal notifications needed to complete arms sales despite informal clearance from relevant congressional committees. Hagerty and other critics argue this delay hinders Israel’s ability to confront threats from Hamas and Hezbollah, and thereby compromises its national security during a critical period of conflict. Hagerty urges the administration to expedite the process and support Israel’s military efforts against its adversaries.
Tennessee GOP senator Bill Hagerty slammed the Biden administration from withholding arms to Israel that have been approved by Congress, snapping they should “get out of Israel’s way.”
Hagerty responded to a story indicating the White House was angry at Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for stating that the Biden administration has been withholding weapons and ammunition from Israel as the Jewish state is threatened by Hamas in the south and Hezbollah in the north. Netanyahu released a video in which he stated:
When Secretary Blinken was recently here in Israel, we had a candid conversation, I said, “I deeply appreciate the support the U.S. has given Israel from the beginning of the war.” But I also said something else. I said, “It’s inconceivable that in the past few months the administration has been withholding weapons and ammunitions to Israel. Israel, America’s closest ally, fighting for its life, fighting against Iran and our other common enemies.” Secretary Blinken assured me that the administration was working day and night to remove these bottlenecks. I certainly hope that’s the case; it should be the case. During World War II, Churchill told the United States, “Give us the tools; we’ll do the job.” And I say: Give us the tools and we’ll finish the job. A lot faster.
Give us the tools and we’ll finish the job. pic.twitter.com/eQHpyd9q0X
— Benjamin Netanyahu – בנימין נתניהו (@netanyahu) June 18, 2024
“@WhiteHouse is mad bc @IsraeliPM @netanyahu is telling the truth,” Hagerty tweeted, “Biden Admin has refused to send Congress **formal** notifications to finalize a host of arms sales to Israel—incl F-15s, JDAM smart bomb kits, munitions—even after SFRC & HFAC informally cleared these sales!”
“The norm is for the Executive Branch to submit formal notifications to Congress roughly 48-72 hours after committees informally cleared proposed arms sales,” he continued. “But the Biden Admin is violating this norm amid Israel’s multi-front war. It’s shocking what @POTUS @JoeBiden is doing to Israel as our ally faces its darkest hour. As SFRC ranking member @SenatorRisch put it, it’s time for the Biden Administration to get out of Israel’s way & let it defeat these Iran-backed terrorists!
.@WhiteHouse is mad bc @IsraeliPM @netanyahu is telling the truth. Biden Admin has refused to send Congress **formal** notifications to finalize a host of arms sales to Israel—incl F-15s, JDAM smart bomb kits, munitions—even after SFRC & HFAC informally cleared these sales! (1/3) https://t.co/OBBmjsGmAC
— Senator Bill Hagerty (@SenatorHagerty) June 19, 2024
It’s shocking what @POTUS @JoeBiden is doing to Israel as our ally faces its darkest hour. As SFRC ranking member @SenatorRisch put it, it’s time for the Biden Administration to get out of Israel’s way & let it defeat these Iran-backed terrorists! (3/3) https://t.co/0fSxy9eydP
— Senator Bill Hagerty (@SenatorHagerty) June 19, 2024
Senator Jim Risch (R-ID), ranking member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, said on Tuesday,
The Biden Administration continues to try and have it both ways by claiming credit for security assistance to Israel that it has not provided. Meanwhile, those of us in Congress with jurisdiction over weapons sales have done our jobs and approved two separate tranches of arms transfers to Israel for formal notification to Congress, to include ammunition, vehicles to protect Israeli soldiers, and nearly $20B in F-15 aircraft. It is past time the administration move to formally notify the F-15 and ammunition sales and remove its existing hold on precision guided munitions. Micromanagement of Israel’s war on terror must end – let’s get out of the way.
“The implications of the Biden Administration’s conditional support for our closest ally in the Middle East are not lost on Hezbollah as its attacks from Lebanon increase in intensity and scale,” Risch continued. “Hamas continues to drive a wedge between the United States and Israel and isolate Israel from the international community. By signaling to terrorists that American support for Israel is conditional, we encourage Hamas to protract the war in Gaza, furthering risk to civilians, and incentivize Hezbollah to continue its attacks on Israel from the North. The Biden Administration’s fecklessness now courts a two-front war – the consequences of which would be disastrous for both Israel’s security and America’s standing in the world as a reliable partner.”
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