Congress urges Biden to provide weapons to Israel

On Thursday, May 16, the Republican-led U.S. House of Representatives passed a bill aimed at forcing President Joe Biden to send weapons to Israel.

This was reported by RBC-Ukraine with reference to Reuters.

The Israel Security Assistance Support Act was approved by 224 votes to 187, mostly along party lines. Sixteen Democrats, along with most Republicans, voted in favor, and three Republicans, along with most Democrats, voted against.

The act is not expected to become law, but its adoption underscored the deep divisions in the United States in the year of the presidential election over Israeli policy.

It is noted that in this way, Republicans are trying to take revenge on Democrats for the recent suspension by the Biden administration of bomb supplies to Tel Aviv to protect the civilian population of the Gaza Strip.

Republicans have accused Biden of “turning his back on Israel” after facing widespread pro-Palestinian protests.

“This is a disastrous decision with global consequences. It's obviously being done for political reasons, and we can't let that happen,” said Republican House Speaker Mike Johnson at a press conference on Wednesday.

Democrats, on the other hand, accused their opponents of playing politics and said that Republicans were distorting Biden's position on Israel.

“This is not a serious legislative initiative, so some of the most pro-Israeli members of the House Democratic caucus will vote against it,” House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries said at a press conference before the vote.

Author - Serhii Kolomiets, 17/05/2024