The Biden Administration Holds Shipment of Bombs to Israel
The Biden administration has put a temporary hold on a shipment of approximately 3,500 bombs to Israel, expressing concerns about their potential deployment in the heavily populated area of Rafah, where more than a million civilians are seeking refuge. An anonymous senior administration official has revealed that the decision to pause the shipment, in addition to scrutinizing other weapon transfers to Israel, represents a significant shift in policy for the Biden administration.
Influencing Israeli Policy with Withheld Military Aid
The Biden administration has traditionally been reluctant to withhold military aid from Israel, even in the face of policy disagreements. However, the pause on this specific shipment suggests a change in approach. The official emphasized that the contracts for such weapons sales are typically long-term, which raises questions about the effectiveness of withholding aid to influence Israeli policy decisions. Despite this, the administration has become increasingly concerned about the potential consequences of delays in future weapons shipments, particularly in the defense of Israel, a critical US ally, due to the humanitarian situation in Rafah that has not been adequately addressed in their talks with Israeli leaders.
The Impact of Earlier Weapons and Ongoing Military Aid Review
The shipment that has been put on hold includes 2,000-pound and 500-pound bombs. The administration remains especially concerned about their potential impact in densely populated areas, citing similar incidents in other parts of Gaza. Alongside this hold, other transfers under the review include “Joint Direct Attack Munition” (JDAM) kits, which enable the precise targeting of bombs. Tuesday saw the ramifications of this new policy decision, coinciding with Israel’s “precise” operation in Rafah. US officials, however, clarified that they did not believe these operations marked the beginning of the anticipated large-scale invasion that Israel has been planning.
Commitment to Israel’s Security, Yet Criticism Persists
While the White House has refused to discuss specific details regarding the arms shipment, the utmost commitment to Israel’s security has been reaffirmed. Nevertheless, President Biden has come under criticism from Democrats and other voters who believe he is not doing enough to prevent the escalating civilian death toll in Gaza. In contrast, Republicans display considerable support for Israel’s operations. House Speaker Mike Johnson condemned the delay in approved arms shipments, expressing concerns that it undermines Congress’ intended course of action.
In response to the reports that ammunition to Israel was being withheld without congressional notification, Republican Sen. Jodi Ernst and Sen. Ted Budd expressed deep concerns and stated that this action would constitute a broken promise to a close American ally. The Biden administration, however, clarified that the review of shipments includes funds from previous appropriations and not the recent congressional aid bill.
Defense Secretary Facing Questions on US Policy
Following these developments, Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin is set to testify on Wednesday before a Senate panel, where he is expected to address US policy considerations. The administration’s actions highlight a notable departure from the previous stance on the provision of military aid to Israel, raising questions about the efficacy of this new approach in influencing policy decisions.
This article incorporates contributions from Lauren Peller, Shannon K. Crawford, Matthew Seyler, Martha Raddatz, Benjamin Siegel, and Molly Nagle.
