House Democrats Break from White House, Condemn Biden's Withholding of Military Aid to Israel

In a rare rebuke of the Biden administration, several House Democrats joined forces with Republicans on Thursday to pass legislation condemning the president's decision to withhold offensive aid from Israel. The bipartisan bill sends a strong message that Congress stands firmly behind the U.S.-Israel alliance.

The House of Representatives has delivered a resounding rebuke to President Biden's handling of the Middle East conflict, with several Democrats defying the White House to support a bill that rebukes the administration for withholding offensive aid from Israel.

The Israel Security Assistance Support Act, which passed on Thursday with a vote of 224 to 187, condemns the president's posture on Israel's Gaza invasion and calls on the Biden administration to expeditiously send any weapons shipments already approved by Congress.

The bill was backed by a bipartisan coalition of 16 Democrats and 208 Republicans. Notably, several Democratic lawmakers from traditionally pro-Israel districts, such as Representatives Tom Suozzi (D-N.Y.), Darren Soto (D-Fla.), and Ritchie Torres (D-N.Y.), voted in favor of the measure.

The Biden administration has been under increasing pressure over its handling of the Israel-Gaza conflict. Lawmakers from both parties have criticized the president for withholding a bomb shipment from Israel and warning that the U.S. would not send offensive weapons if they were used on population centers in the southern Gaza Strip.

House Foreign Affairs Chairman Michael McCaul (R-Texas), who led the debate for the bill, accused the Biden administration of "defying congressional intent" by withholding weapons approved by Congress. "Red lines are meant for our enemies, not our allies," he asserted.

The bill also includes provisions that would withhold funding from the Secretary of Defense, Secretary of State, and National Security Council if there is any delay in weapons aid to Israel.

Opponents of the bill argued that it could set a dangerous precedent for restricting a president's ability to conduct foreign policy. They also suggested that the administration's concerns about potential civilian casualties in Gaza justified the decision to withhold the weapons.

However, supporters of the bill maintained that it was necessary to send a strong message to the Biden administration that Congress will not tolerate any weakening of the U.S.-Israel alliance. They argued that withholding weapons from Israel would embolden its enemies and undermine its ability to defend itself.

The vote on the bill comes days after Biden announced that he was moving forward with a $1 billion weapons shipment to Israel. However, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) has already indicated that he does not plan to take up the bill in the Senate, citing the White House's threat to veto the measure.

The passage of the bill in the House is a significant setback for the Biden administration and underscores the growing bipartisan concern over the U.S.-Israel relationship. It remains to be seen whether the administration will continue to withhold weapons from Israel or if it will face pressure to reverse its stance in the face of strong congressional opposition.