Sen. Cotton and others say admin’s efforts ‘undercut our most valuable’ ally
Sen. Tom Cotton (Getty Images)
The Biden administration is facing pressure from Congress to explain a series of executive orders that have targeted Israeli Jews with sanctions, undermining their efforts to eradicate Hamas. This has sparked concern among a group of Republican senators, led by Sen. Tom Cotton (R., Ark.), who are urging the administration to rescind these orders.
The first order imposes sanctions on Israeli Jews for alleged crimes against Palestinians, while the second threatens to cut off U.S. weapons sales to Israel unless assurances are provided that the arms will not harm civilians. These measures were issued earlier this month in response to pressure from far-left Democratic lawmakers who oppose U.S. support for Israel in its conflict with Hamas.
In a letter sent to President Biden, the Republican senators argue that these executive actions are undermining Israeli operations against Hamas and jeopardizing the United States’ most valuable alliance in the Middle East. They highlight the growing divide between Republicans and the Democratic White House as Israel’s war with Hamas continues.
The senators call for the administration to rescind the orders and instead focus on sanctioning terrorists and their supporters. They point out that the United States has not sanctioned any Palestinians for crimes against Jews, despite a significant increase in terror incidents targeting Jews.
The senators also express concern about the lack of defined standards for determining when sanctions are warranted against Israelis accused of violence. They criticize the State Department for not taking action against the Palestinian Authority, which has a policy of financially supporting terrorists who have committed heinous acts against Israelis.
Furthermore, the senators question the Biden administration’s order that imposes additional requirements on Israel to ensure U.S.-made weapons are not used to commit war crimes. They argue that existing American law already mandates adherence to international standards for war, and Israel has provided evidence of its efforts to avoid civilian casualties.
The Biden administration’s policies targeting Israel have also faced scrutiny from Congress, including Sen. Cotton’s efforts to determine if the sanctions on Israeli Jews will apply to those living in East Jerusalem.
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