Biden Blocks Munitions to Israel as Part of His ‘Continual Doctrine of Appeasement’: Senator

Politically, Israel has been regarded as America’s most strategic ally in the Middle East. In Christian circles, the church’s relationship to Israel also carries a high significance. In light of this, it’s not surprising that many are disappointed in the way the Biden administration has conducted itself since the war between Israel and the terrorist group Hamas began after the October 7 surprise attack. Reflecting similar sentiments of many in Congress, House Republican Conference Chairwoman Elise Stefanik (N.Y.) said in an interview with Fox Business, “My take is that at every opportunity Joe Biden has failed to show important support for Israel.”

Similar remarks have been made throughout the past several months, but these comments come in response to the Biden administration “limiting and withholding the military aid package that Congress passed overwhelmingly on a bipartisan basis,” Stefanik chided. “This is our most precious ally,” she added, and the Biden administration is “tying Israel’s hands when Israel is in a fight for its very existence.”

President Joe Biden defended his decision to block the shipment of munitions to Israel on Wednesday, saying he would “not supply offensive weapons that Israel could use to launch an all-out assault on Rafah,” the Associated Press reported. Senator Tom Cotton (R-Ark.) retorted, “Joe Biden’s de facto position is for a Hamas victory over Israel.” Others, such as former President Donald Trump, insisted that Biden “abandoned Israel” with his decision.

As Family Research Council President Tony Perkins said on Wednesday’s episode of “Washington Watch,” “[A]s the strains between the Biden administration and Israel become more apparent, we have to ask the question: what will this mean long term for U.S.-Israeli relations? And how might this affect Israel’s ongoing war against Hamas?” Joining Perkins in this discussion was Senator Katie Britt (R-Ala.), who described Biden’s recent actions as “completely and totally unacceptable right now.”

“Israel is fighting for her life,” she continued. “It is imperative, I believe, both as Americans and for me as a Christian, that we stand shoulder to shoulder with Israel.” According to Britt, Biden’s actions not only effect Israel, but they “undermine Israel’s efforts” to free hostages and eradicate Hamas, which were their two objectives since the war began. As she said, “this is a moment that, unfortunately, is going to stay with President Biden forever in that he is turning his back on our greatest ally in the Middle East,” which will likely “have dire consequences.” “[W]e’ve got to continue to speak up and speak directly to this and make sure that Israel has what she needs to defend herself and to continue to thrive,” Britt insisted.

Perkins asked the senator if she felt this would “have long-term implications for the relationship between the United States and Israel,” and she replied that whatever does occur “lands solely on Joe Biden.” She emphasized there has been “an overwhelming voice coming from Congress saying, ‘We support Israel.’” But when it comes to the president, she said, “He is giving in to the pro-Hamas wing of his party. He is looking forward to an election and thinking more about what’s happening in Michigan and Minnesota than he is about actually creating a peaceful world and projecting peace through strength.” As Britt stated, “He has a continual doctrine of appeasement.”

The Alabama senator also noted that Biden blocked this aid to Israel, “yet Iran continues to flourish from profits and oil revenue, because this administration refuses to use the tools in their toolbox to dry them up financially,” she protested. “And we know what they do with that money,” the senator pointed out. “They fund terrorism, they fund Hamas, they fund Hezbollah, they fund the Houthis.”

Britt went on to explain that during her visit to Israel shortly after the October 7 attack, “[T]he Israeli government … reminded us that Israel was created after the Holocaust so the Jewish people would never have to hide again.” But with “this rise of anti-Semitism, the not standing with Israel,” it’s even more crucial for “those of us in Congress … to continue to speak up, speak loudly, and use every tool in our toolbox to force this administration to do the right thing,” which is “standing with Israel, allowing them to actually eradicate Hamas.”

Perkins agreed that “Congress has spoken and spoken very loudly.” But, he asked, “Is this a message to the Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, or is this a message for the Left’s radical base here in the United States?”

Britt believes the latter. She explained how there are numerous examples for why this is likely the case, but “what’s happening across our country on our ‘elite institution’ campuses” makes it most clear. “This administration [is] refusing to unequivocally call … out” such obvious anti-Semitism, she argued. “We should be able to call evil ‘evil’ in this nation,” Britt concluded. But “unfortunately, this president doesn’t even have the gumption to do that.”