Biden Faces Criticism from Jewish Democrats Over Withheld Weapons Shipments to Israel

Multiple prominent pro-Israel Biden donors are expressing their disapproval of the President's decision to potentially withhold weapons from Israel, a move that has sparked significant concern within the pro-Israel community.

President Joe Biden's decision to pause weapon shipments to Israel has drawn severe criticism from several Jewish Democrat donors and advocates, who argue that the move undermines Israel's security and sends a detrimental message to allies in the region.

In an email to White House officials, Israeli American Democratic megadonor Haim Saban expressed his vehement opposition to the decision, labeling it "Bad, Bad, Bad, decision, on all levels." Saban further asserted that Biden's stance "sends a terrible message to our allies in the region and beyond."

Another Democrat Party advocate, Mark Mellman, voiced his concerns in a statement to Axios, expressing worry about a potential shift in US policy towards Israel. "There are a lot of people in the pro-Israel community who are very worried, very upset, and very angry," Mellman noted.

The criticism stems from Biden's announcement that he would withhold weapons shipments if Israel were to invade Rafah, a stronghold of Hamas in southern Gaza. Biden emphasized that the US would continue to support Israel's security, particularly through the Iron Dome defense system, but would not provide weapons for offensive operations.

Some analysts and Israeli officials believe that Biden's decision is motivated by political considerations, particularly the desire to appease the progressive base of the Democratic Party ahead of the November elections. However, the Biden administration has not publicly confirmed this rationale.

Critics argue that the withholding of weapons will weaken Israel's ability to confront Hamas, a terrorist organization that holds thousands of hostages, including potential Americans, as human shields in Rafah. They contend that Biden's decision effectively abandons the goal of defeating Hamas, a stance that was previously supported by the US.

In response to the criticism, the House Oversight Committee has initiated an investigation into the Biden administration's threats to withhold aid from Israel. The White House has not yet publicly commented on the investigation.

The controversy surrounding Biden's decision highlights the complex and often conflicting interests at play in US foreign policy, particularly in the Middle East. As the Biden administration continues to grapple with this issue, it remains to be seen how these tensions will be resolved and what the long-term implications will be for US-Israel relations.