East Idaho Times

U.S. Senators Mike Crapo (R-Idaho) and Jim Risch (R-Idaho), along with Tom Cotton (R-Arkansas), led 45 Senate Republican colleagues in sending a letter to the Biden Administration, protesting its partial arms embargo against Israel. The Senators urged the White House to cease accommodating Iran, stop jeopardizing the lives of American servicemembers, and deliver necessary weapons systems to Israel.

“When Prime Minister Netanyahu publicly raised the weapons hold in June, your administration adamantly denied the accusation. You ignored Congressional inquiries, including a May 6, 2024, letter from Senator Marshall, a May 6, 2024, letter from Senator Ernst, a May 14, 2024, letter from Senator Risch and a June 20, 2024, letter from Senator Cotton. All the while, you were deliberately delaying the delivery of weapons, ammunition, and equipment to Israel. These include 120 mm tank ammunition, 120 mm mortar ammunition, light tactical vehicles, air-to-air missiles, F-15s, F-35 engines, joint direct attack munition kits, 2,000-pound bombs, rifles and guided missile systems,” the Senators wrote.

Additional signatories included Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Kentucky), Senators Marco Rubio (R-Florida), Tim Scott (R-South Carolina), Lindsey Graham (R-South Carolina), Roger Wicker (R-Mississippi), John Barrasso (R-Wyoming), Marsha Blackburn (R-Tennessee), John Boozman (R-Arkansas), Mike Braun (R-Indiana), Katie Britt (R-Alabama), Ted Budd (R-North Carolina), Bill Cassidy (R-Louisiana), Shelley Moore Capito (R-West Virginia), Susan Collins (R-Maine), John Cornyn (R-Texas), Kevin Cramer (R-North Dakota), Ted Cruz (R-Texas), Steve Daines (R-Montana), Joni Ernst (R-Iowa), Deb Fischer (R-Nebraska), Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), Bill Hagerty (R-Tennessee), Josh Hawley (R-Missouri), John Hoeven (R-North Dakota), Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-Mississippi.), Ron Johnson (R-Wisconsin.), John Kennedy(R-Louisiana.), James Lankford(R-Oklahoma.), Mike Lee(R-Utah.), Cynthia Lummis(R-Wyoming.), Roger Marshall(R-Kansas.), Jerry Moran(R-Kansas.), Markwayne Mullin(R-Oklahoma.), Lisa Murkowski(R-Alaska.), Pete Ricketts(R-Nebraska.), Mitt Romney(R-Utah.), Mike Rounds(R-South Dakota.), Eric Schmitt(R-Missouri.), Rick Scott(R-Florida.), Dan Sullivan(Alabama.) John Thune(South Dakota.) Thom Tillis(North Carolina.) Tommy Tuberville(Alabama.) JD Vance(Ohio.) Todd Young(Indiana.)

A copy of the letter can be found here and below:

Dear President Biden:

This weekend Hezbollah fired Iranian-made missiles into northern Israel murdering twelve children and injuring dozens in the single deadliest attack on that part of the country since October seventh. The ultimate responsibility for this attack rests with Hezbollah and the ayatollahs in Iran. However while Tehran financed the attack and Hezbollah conducted it your fear of escalation has left Israel exposed and our enemies emboldened.

We write once again to protest your administration’s partial arms embargo against Israel. The actions of the Biden-Harris administration run counter to our long history of robust military cooperation with Israel and cast doubt upon the reliability of United States as a long-term security partner. Your actions also violate will of Congress as expressed in recent supplemental that funded emergency military support to Israel.

When Prime Minister Netanyahu publicly raised weapons hold in June your administration adamantly denied accusation. You ignored Congressional inquiries including May sixth two thousand twenty-four letter from Senator Marshall May sixth two thousand twenty-four letter from Senator Ernst May fourteenth two thousand twenty-four letter from Senator Risch and June twentieth two thousand twenty-four letter from Senator Cotton all while you were deliberately delaying delivery of weapons ammunition equipment to Israel these include one hundred twenty millimeter tank ammunition one hundred twenty millimeter mortar ammunition light tactical vehicles air-to-air missiles F-fifteens F-thirty-five engines joint direct attack munition kits two thousand pound bombs rifles guided missile systems.

While your administration delays Hamas continues wage war against Israel Houthis continue attack Red Sea Hezbollah continues onslaught northern Israel Your stalling tactics endangering greatest ally Middle East jeopardizing lives American servicemembers stationed region urge use every available emergency authority expedite physical delivery all weapons ammunition approved by Congress

Your administration must stop accommodating Iran terrorist allies now

###