Biden's Abandonment of Israel: Former Ambassador Blasts Pause on Weapons Shipment

Former U.S. Ambassador to Israel David Friedman criticizes President Biden's "abandonment" of Israel, arguing that the delay in providing $1 billion in new arms will not arrive in time to effectively counter the ongoing conflict with Hamas.

As President Biden faces mounting pressure over his handling of the escalating Middle East conflict, former U.S. Ambassador to Israel David Friedman has denounced the administration's decision to pause a critical shipment of weapons to the Jewish state.

Friedman, a staunch supporter of Israel and a close ally of former President Trump, described the delay as a "catastrophic decision with global implications" that threatens to undermine the U.S.-Israel alliance and embolden adversaries like Iran.

"This administration is abandoning Israel in its hour of need," Friedman asserted. "The Biden administration is sending a clear message that Israel is not a priority, and that it is willing to sacrifice its security for political gain."

The pause in the weapons shipment, which includes 3,500 bombs, some weighing up to 2,000 pounds, has drawn bipartisan condemnation. Republicans have accused the Biden administration of endangering Israel's ability to defend itself against Hamas rockets and airstrikes.

Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., accused President Biden of "defying the will of Congress" by withholding the weapons shipment, which was approved by the national security supplemental passed last month.

"Israel needs to finish the job, and America needs to help Israel extinguish the flame of terror that is wrought by Hamas," Johnson declared. "But Joe Biden is telling Israel that they are only really allowed to put out part of that fire. That is just simply not going to work."

House Majority Leader Steve Scalise, R-La., echoed Johnson's concerns, arguing that Iran is not holding back in its support for Hamas, which has fired over 300 drones and missiles into Israel and continues to hold over 130 hostages, including Americans.

"Where is President Biden caring about the lives of those American citizens that are being held hostage right now in tunnels under Gaza?" Scalise questioned. "President Biden is supporting Hamas' position against Israel. This is disgusting."

The Biden administration has defended the pause in the weapons shipment, arguing that it is necessary to prevent further civilian casualties in the densely populated city of Rafah, where Hamas was targeting.

However, critics contend that the delay will only prolong the conflict and embolden Hamas, which has been launching rockets indiscriminately into civilian areas in Israel.

"The Biden administration is playing a dangerous game by giving Hamas a green light to continue its terror campaign," said Friedman. "This will only lead to more bloodshed and instability in the region."

The debate over the weapons shipment has exposed deep divisions within the Democratic Party. Moderate Democrats have expressed frustration that the president would allow daylight between the U.S. and Israel, while progressives argue that any weapons transfer to Israel only fuels the conflict.

The House is expected to vote on a bill that would force the delivery of the weapons to Israel, but the White House has threatened to veto the legislation. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., has also indicated that the bill will not receive floor time in the Senate, where Democrats hold the majority.

Despite the opposition from the Biden administration and Senate Democrats, the public pressure is mounting to deliver the weapons to Israel. Republican lawmakers are confident that the bipartisan support for the bill in the House will force Schumer to take it up in the Senate and that the White House will ultimately be pressured to sign it into law.

"The public pressure will grow so large that Chuck Schumer will have to take this bill up," said Scalise. "And if this bill does pass the Senate, like some other bills that President Biden threatened to veto, that he ultimately signed because the public finally had enough. This is one of those cases."