16 Dems Side with GOP to Rebuke Biden’s Israel Weapons Pause

(UnitedHeadlines.com) – Sixteen House Democrats joined House Republicans in passing the Israel Security Assistance Support Act on May 16, condemning President Joe Biden for his decision to withhold offensive aid from Israel.

The bill, which passed in a vote of 224-187, compels the Biden administration to send Israel any weapons shipments that Congress has already approved expeditiously. If there is a delay in sending weapons aid to Israel, the bill would also withhold funding from the National Security Council, the Secretary of Defense, and the Secretary of State.

Sixteen Democrats, including Florida Rep. Darren Soto, New York Rep. Tom Suozzi, New York Rep. Ritchie Torres, Texas Rep. Henry Cuellar, and Washington Rep. Marie Gluesenkamp Perez, voted with the 208 Republicans. Three Republicans, Georgia Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, Kentucky Rep. Thomas Massie, and Ohio Rep. Warren Davidson, were among the 187 who voted against the bill.

During the debate about the bill, House Foreign Affairs Chairman and Texas Rep. Michael McCaul said Biden withholding the weapons approved for Israel by Congress “defied congressional intent,” adding that it “is tantamount to an arms embargo.” He said, “Red lines are not meant for our allies.”

Senate Majority Leader and New York Sen. Chuck Schumer called the bill “a misguided reaction” to Biden’s “approach to Israel,” stating that he does not plan to hold a vote on the bill in the Senate, as the White House has threatened to veto the bill if it arrives on Biden’s desk.

The House vote comes after Biden announced he would pause a bomb shipment to Israel, fearing Israel might use the bombs during its offensive into Rafah in Gaza. He also issued a warning that the U.S. would not ship Israel offensive weapons if they were going to be used on heavily populated areas in the southern Gaza Strip. Biden’s comments have resulted in bipartisan backlash from pro-Israel lawmakers. Amidst the backlash and despite his warnings, on May 16, Biden stated he would send Israel a $1 billion weapons shipment.