The ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas has once again thrust the delicate geopolitical dynamics in the Middle East into the global spotlight.
At the heart of this escalating crisis lies a concerning revelation – the Biden administration’s apparent attempts to undermine Israel, a steadfast U.S. ally, by deliberately delaying the delivery of crucial military aid.
This explosive accusation, made public by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, has sparked a firestorm of controversy and raised urgent questions about the administration’s true intentions.
According to Arkansas Senator Tom Cotton’s scathing letter to President Biden, the administration has engaged in a “bureaucratic sleight-of-hand” to withhold essential weapons and ammunition from Israel during its ongoing battle against the Hamas terrorist group.
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The senator asserts that the administration has manipulated the Arms Export Control Act, which requires congressional notification before sending arms to foreign countries, by deliberately withholding such notifications. This has allowed the administration to claim that the requested weapons are “in process” while never actually delivering them to Israel.
Cotton’s letter outlines a litany of specific military equipment that Israel has requested, including F-15s, tactical vehicles, 120-mm mortars, 120-mm tank rounds, joint direct attack munitions, and small-diameter bombs.
However, the Biden administration has allegedly obstructed the delivery of these crucial assets, hampering Israel’s ability to effectively defend itself against the sustained threat posed by Hamas and other Iranian-backed groups.
Cotton says that Congress has a clear, bipartisan mandate to ensure that Israel receives all the resources it needs to defeat the Hamas terrorists. He argues that any delays in military support to Israel “blatantly disregard Congress’s bipartisan mandate” and undermine the nation’s commitment to its trusted ally.
The senator’s letter demands a comprehensive accounting of the administration’s actions, including a detailed list of all weapons and ammunition being withheld, the status of Israel’s requests, and the reasons for any delays.
Earlier this week, diplomatic tensions between the United States and Israel escalated to new heights as the White House took drastic action in response to a controversial video released by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
According to reports from Axios, the White House was “angry and shocked” by Netanyahu’s video, in which he claimed that the Biden administration had been “withholding weapons and ammunition” from Israel in recent months.
This assertion was quickly refuted by White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre, who stated that only one weapons shipment had been paused, while billions of dollars’ worth of military aid had continued to flow unimpeded.
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Incensed by Netanyahu’s accusations, the Biden administration took swift action. The White House canceled a high-level U.S.-Israel meeting on Iran that was scheduled for Thursday, with a senior U.S. official stating that “this decision makes it clear that there are consequences for pulling such stunts.”
The fallout from Netanyahu’s video was immediate and severe. A senior Israeli official, speaking to Axios, admitted that “the Americans are fuming. Bibi’s video caused a lot of damage.” Some Israeli officials had already arrived in Washington for the canceled meeting, only to be sent back home.
In a further escalation, the Biden administration also canceled a strategic dialogue on Iran, which was set to include hours of discussions between officials from the State Department, Pentagon, and U.S. intelligence agencies, and their Israeli counterparts.
The White House’s displeasure with Netanyahu’s actions was underscored by the intervention of U.S. envoy Amos Hochstein, who met with the Israeli Prime Minister on Tuesday. According to Axios, Hochstein told Netanyahu that “the accusations in the video were both inaccurate and out of line.”
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This direct rebuke from a senior U.S. official highlights the depth of the administration’s frustration with Netanyahu’s provocative statements, which they perceived as undermining the delicate diplomatic efforts surrounding the Iranian nuclear issue.
The cancellation of the high-level meetings and the strategic dialogue on Iran represents a significant escalation in the tensions between the U.S. and Israel. It signals a shift in the dynamics of the traditionally close relationship, with the Biden administration demonstrating a willingness to take a more assertive stance in the face of perceived Israeli transgressions.
This development raises questions about the future trajectory of the U.S.-Israel partnership, with both sides potentially reevaluating their priorities and strategies in the face of this diplomatic crisis.
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