Biden's Conditional Weaponry: A Shift in US Policy on Israeli Operations

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In a significant policy shift, President Joe Biden has declared that the United States will halt certain shipments of American weapons to Israel if Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu orders a major invasion of the city of Rafah in Gaza. This announcement marks a turning point in the longstanding conflict between Israel and Hamas and reflects a growing recognition of the role of American weaponry in the region's ongoing violence.

 

Biden's statement came during an exclusive interview with CNN's Erin Burnett, where he acknowledged that American bombs supplied to Israel have been used in attacks that resulted in civilian casualties in Gaza. The president's willingness to condition weapon shipments on Israel's actions represents a departure from previous administrations' unwavering support for Israel's military endeavors.

 

The decision to potentially withhold arms shipments underscores the Biden administration's commitment to prioritizing civilian lives and de-escalating the conflict in the Middle East. While the United States will continue to provide defensive weapons, such as those for Israel's Iron Dome air defense system, shipments of offensive weaponry, including artillery shells and high-payload munitions, would be suspended in the event of a major ground invasion of Rafah.

 

This shift in policy reflects growing pressure on the Biden administration, both from within the Democratic Party and the broader international community, to reassess its support for Israeli military actions. The humanitarian crisis in Gaza, exacerbated by recent escalations in violence, has heightened scrutiny of American arms sales to Israel and raised questions about their role in perpetuating conflict.

 

Netanyahu's response to Biden's announcement remains unclear, but the prospect of a rift between the two leaders looms large. While Biden emphasized his commitment to Israel's security, he made it clear that American support for military operations in heavily populated areas is not unconditional.

 

The timing of Biden's statement coincides with escalating tensions along the Israel-Gaza border, particularly in Rafah, where Israeli airstrikes and the evacuation of civilian populations have raised concerns about the potential for further violence. Biden's warning to Netanyahu about the risks of entering populated areas echoes broader concerns about the consequences of protracted conflict and the need for a diplomatic resolution.

 

The decision to condition weapon shipments on Israel's conduct reflects a broader shift in US foreign policy under the Biden administration, emphasizing human rights and multilateral diplomacy. While the United States remains committed to its alliance with Israel, Biden's willingness to hold Israel accountable for its actions sends a clear message that American support is not unconditional.

 

Later, Biden described warning Netanyahu about the risks of becoming bogged down in Gaza, drawing parallels to the American experience in Afghanistan and Iraq. “I said to Bibi, ‘Don’t make the same mistake we made in America. We wanted to get bin Laden. We’ll help you get Sinwar,’” he said, referring to the Hamas leader in Gaza.

 

In the CNN interview, he sought to reframe perceptions of the American economy, touting strong job growth and efforts to combat corporate greed while questioning surveys showing voters still pessimistic about the country’s direction. “We’ve already turned it around,” Biden said, responding to a question on whether, less than six months before Election Day, he was running short on time to improve his standing among Americans on his handling of the economy.

 

Biden pointed to surveys showing many Americans view their own economic situation favorably, even as they look negatively on the nationwide economy. “The polling data has been wrong all along,” he said, questioning the effectiveness of phone surveys.

 

 

2024-05-09

 

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[Hanaguma]

Nice work Joe. Denying weapons to an ally of many decades, the only democratic country in the region, the only country with rights for women and LGBT people, lovely.

 

All for what? To appease a small segment of the Democratic electorate in an election year? Unbelievable. 

[Bkk Brian]

Meanwhile US hostages linger in the tunnels of Rafah.

 

Pro-Israel Democrats slam Biden’s threat to stop arms transfers if Israel enters Rafah

Prominent pro-Israel Democrats criticize US President Joe Biden for threatening to halt the transfer of offensive weaponry to Israel if the IDF carries out an offensive in Rafah. “Hard disagree and deeply disappointing,” says US Senator John Fetterman of Pennsylvania. Representative Ritchie Torres of New York told Axios he suspects Biden is “pandering to the far left.” 

“It looks like election year politics was driving it. That’s my impression,” he adds. “I’d like the president to do right by Israel and recognize that the far left is not representative of the rest of the country.”

https://www.timesofisrael.com/liveblog_entry/pro-israel-democrats-slam-bidens-threat-to-stop-arms-transfers-if-israel-invades-rafah/

 

 

[placeholder]

10 minutes ago, Bkk Brian said:

Meanwhile US hostages linger in the tunnels of Rafah.

 

Pro-Israel Democrats slam Biden’s threat to stop arms transfers if Israel enters Rafah

Prominent pro-Israel Democrats criticize US President Joe Biden for threatening to halt the transfer of offensive weaponry to Israel if the IDF carries out an offensive in Rafah. “Hard disagree and deeply disappointing,” says US Senator John Fetterman of Pennsylvania. Representative Ritchie Torres of New York told Axios he suspects Biden is “pandering to the far left.” 

“It looks like election year politics was driving it. That’s my impression,” he adds. “I’d like the president to do right by Israel and recognize that the far left is not representative of the rest of the country.”

https://www.timesofisrael.com/liveblog_entry/pro-israel-democrats-slam-bidens-threat-to-stop-arms-transfers-if-israel-invades-rafah/

Yes. Hostages linger in the tunnels. And those big bombs are designed to collapse those tunnels. This looks like good news for them. And to date  Israeli forces have freed an impressive total of 3 hostages from captivity. 

[Bkk Brian]

“At a time when Israel continues to negotiate in good faith to secure the release of hostages, including American citizens, the administration’s shortsighted, strategic error calls into question its ‘unshakeable commitment’ as an ally,” McCaul and Rogers wrote.

 

House GOP chairs lash out at Biden over pause in Israeli arms shipment

But Republicans and critics of the administration’s move to hold arms transfers throws into question U.S. solidarity with Israel amid intense negotiations to reach a cease-fire deal that would secure the release of Israeli hostages held by Hamas since they were kidnapped in its Oct. 7 terrorist attack. 

“We are appalled that the administration paused crucial arms shipments to Israel,” the Republican House chairs wrote. “The administration must allow these arms shipments to move forward to uphold the United States’ commitment to Israel’s security and ensure that Israel can defend itself and defeat Hamas.”

https://thehill.com/policy/international/4651830-house-gop-chairs-lash-out-biden-pause-israeli-arms-shipment/

[Wobblybob]

Senator Graham grills Lloyd Austin about suspending certain arms to Israel, a must watch!

 

 

[rattlesnake]

Israel more isolated than ever. Now it needs to be prevented from using the Samson Option.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Samson_Option

[Hanaguma]

Another thing the 'Biden team' failed to take into account is how this undermines Israel's negotiating position for any potential end to the war. Hamas can sit tight and wait things out.  If anything, now is the time to provide MORE aid, especially intelligence and reconnaisance, as well as precision munitions as needed. Get this conflict finished, get Hamas to room temperature, and then Gaza can begin to rebuild as a peaceful and democratic territory.

[Bkk Brian]

IDF: We’ve enough munitions for Rafah; PM: ‘We’ll fight with our fingernails’ if needed

“The IDF has armaments for the missions it is planning, including missions in Rafah. We have what we need,” IDF Spokesman Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari said, responding to a question at a press conference.

While some commentators have agreed the military likely has munitions needed for a Rafah offensive, it may be hard-pressed to face Hezbollah if the conflict in the north develops into all-out war and Washington continues to withhold munitions.

https://www.timesofisrael.com/idf-says-its-has-enough-munitions-for-rafah-netanyahu-if-we-must-well-stand-alone/

[Bkk Brian]

"Within 2 hours of the president’s announcement last night, #Hamas said they were withdrawing from negotiations on hostages & on a ceasefire. What Biden has done is handed a great victory to Hamas. This was a horrible mistake."

 

Risch: Biden’s Decision to Hold Aid to Israel a “Horrible Mistake”

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Jim Risch (R-Idaho), ranking member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, today spoke at a Senate Republican press conference condemning the Biden Administration’s blocking of arms sales for Israel. 

“The non-partisan weapons sales process has kept domestic political squabbles out of this for a long time. It’s been in place for about half a century, and it has worked really well. The administration has stepped outside those boundaries now without any notifications to us.

“We have a situation here where Congress passed funding, the administration allowed these weapons sales, myself and the other three members of Congress who closely look at these sales – and take that obligation seriously – also signed off on it, and now in the heat of battle, this administration is saying ‘we’re gonna pull this back.’ This is unprecedented. It’s going to be watched by our enemies. It’s going to be watched by our allies. And it is not helpful to the national security of the United States.

https://www.foreign.senate.gov/press/rep/release/risch-bidens-decision-to-hold-aid-to-israel-a-horrible-mistake

[placeholder]

4 hours ago, Bkk Brian said:

"Within 2 hours of the president’s announcement last night, #Hamas said they were withdrawing from negotiations on hostages & on a ceasefire. What Biden has done is handed a great victory to Hamas. This was a horrible mistake."

 

Risch: Biden’s Decision to Hold Aid to Israel a “Horrible Mistake”

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Jim Risch (R-Idaho), ranking member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, today spoke at a Senate Republican press conference condemning the Biden Administration’s blocking of arms sales for Israel. 

“The non-partisan weapons sales process has kept domestic political squabbles out of this for a long time. It’s been in place for about half a century, and it has worked really well. The administration has stepped outside those boundaries now without any notifications to us.

“We have a situation here where Congress passed funding, the administration allowed these weapons sales, myself and the other three members of Congress who closely look at these sales – and take that obligation seriously – also signed off on it, and now in the heat of battle, this administration is saying ‘we’re gonna pull this back.’ This is unprecedented. It’s going to be watched by our enemies. It’s going to be watched by our allies. And it is not helpful to the national security of the United States.

https://www.foreign.senate.gov/press/rep/release/risch-bidens-decision-to-hold-aid-to-israel-a-horrible-mistake

Thanks for sharing with us that nonsense from Jim Risch. Since when has the weapons sale process been non-partisan? Living in an alternative reality much?

[placeholder]

4 hours ago, Bkk Brian said:

IDF: We’ve enough munitions for Rafah; PM: ‘We’ll fight with our fingernails’ if needed

“The IDF has armaments for the missions it is planning, including missions in Rafah. We have what we need,” IDF Spokesman Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari said, responding to a question at a press conference.

While some commentators have agreed the military likely has munitions needed for a Rafah offensive, it may be hard-pressed to face Hezbollah if the conflict in the north develops into all-out war and Washington continues to withhold munitions.

https://www.timesofisrael.com/idf-says-its-has-enough-munitions-for-rafah-netanyahu-if-we-must-well-stand-alone/

What would you expect them to say in such circumstances? 

[Bkk Brian]

Just now, placeholder said:

Thanks for sharing with us that nonsense from Jim Risch. Since when has the weapons sale process been non-partisan? Living in an alternative reality much?

Ask him, he said its non-partisian. The message being its a horrible mistake 

 

"Within 2 hours of the president’s announcement last night, #Hamas said they were withdrawing from negotiations on hostages & on a ceasefire. What Biden has done is handed a great victory to Hamas. This was a horrible mistake."

 

 

[placeholder]

Just now, Bkk Brian said:

Ask him, he said its non-partisian. The message being its a horrible mistake 

 

"Within 2 hours of the president’s announcement last night, #Hamas said they were withdrawing from negotiations on hostages & on a ceasefire. What Biden has done is handed a great victory to Hamas. This was a horrible mistake."

 

 

Post hoc ergo propter hoc. 

[Bkk Brian]

3 minutes ago, placeholder said:

What would you expect them to say in such circumstances? 

I don't know I am not them, what would you expect them to say?

[Bkk Brian]

Just now, placeholder said:

Post hoc ergo propter hoc. 

oh......lol

[placeholder]

Just now, Bkk Brian said:

I don't know I am not them, what would you expect them to say?

 

1 minute ago, Bkk Brian said:

Ask him, he said its non-partisian. The message being its a horrible mistake 

 

"Within 2 hours of the president’s announcement last night, #Hamas said they were withdrawing from negotiations on hostages & on a ceasefire. What Biden has done is handed a great victory to Hamas. This was a horrible mistake."

 

 

So, when you quote these sources, you're not doing it in support of your arguments? You're just taking random dictation? Disingenuous much?

[Bkk Brian]

Just now, placeholder said:

 

So, when you quote these sources, you're not doing it in support of your arguments? You're just taking random dictation? Disingenuous much?

stop trolling with this tedious baiting. Did you see my point?

 

"Within 2 hours of the president’s announcement last night, #Hamas said they were withdrawing from negotiations on hostages & on a ceasefire. What Biden has done is handed a great victory to Hamas. This was a horrible mistake."

[Neeranam]

On 5/9/2024 at 11:50 AM, Hanaguma said:

Nice work Joe. Denying weapons to an ally of many decades, the only democratic country in the region, the only country with rights for women and LGBT people, lovely.

 

All for what? To appease a small segment of the Democratic electorate in an election year? Unbelievable. 

You do know his own staff are turning against him, yet you will never criticize him as he is listening to your lobby

 

[thaibeachlovers]

On 5/10/2024 at 5:28 PM, Neeranam said:

You do know his own staff are turning against him, yet you will never criticize him as he is listening to your lobby

 

I'd say that IMO the israeli lobby own Biden.

 

As for the OP, it's just irrelevant IMO. He says the words but does the same old israel good Palestinians bad actions. He may have suspended delivery of some bombs for a while, but IMO that is just clutching at straws to save his election prospects.