There’s an emerging consensus of Democrats breaking with Joe Biden over his decision to put an arms embargo on Israel as they invade Rafah to eliminate Hamas.
Senator Ben Cardin has now issued a statement saying he disagrees with Biden’s decision and that support for Israel should continue:
FOX NEWS – Senate Foreign Relations Committee chairman Sen. Ben Cardin, D-Md., said Friday that military aid to Israel should continue in a departure from the White House position.
In a statement, Cardin said he disagreed with President Biden, who has threatened to withhold offensive aid from Israel if it proceeds with a ground invasion of the southern Gaza city of Rafah, where millions of Palestinians have sought refuge from the war.
“While the most recent report regarding Israel under the NSM-20 has raised concerns, I agree with its assessment that Israel has not violated International Humanitarian Law and that military assistance to support Israel’s security remains in the U.S. interest and should continue,” Cardin said.
“In this regard, I differ with President Biden’s recent decision,” he said.
Other Democrats have also gone on the record opposing Biden’s decision, with some even suggesting it’s driven by politics:
His decision has prompted backlash from a growing chorus of pro-Israel Democratic lawmakers — now including Cardin — some of whom have suggested Biden’s decision was motivated by politics and the upcoming election in November.
“I suspect it’s pandering to the far left,” Rep. Ritchie Tores, D-N.Y., told Axios. “It looks like election year politics was driving it. That’s my impression.”
Sen. John Fetterman, D-Pa., an outspoken advocate for Israel’s right to defend itself from Hamas, told Axios that he opposed Biden’s pause on weapons shipments.
“I strenuously disagree,” Fetterman said. “We have to stand with our key ally throughout all of this.”
Sen. Jacky Rosen, D-Nev., said security assistance to Israel should be “unconditional” while Israel faces threats from Iran and its proxy groups, like Hamas.
“The administration should not do anything that undermines Israel’s ability to defeat Hamas and address mounting threats across the region,” she told Jewish Insider.
Sen. Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., agreed that U.S. support for Israel should continue.
“I don’t know what the president meant. I haven’t seen what the actual operation in Rafah is, but I certainly hope that we’ll continue to provide support militarily and diplomatically that Israel needs to defend itself,” he said.
The White House denies that Biden’s decision is political, but we all know that’s just spin to try and protect Biden as he betrays Israel. If it weren’t political, Biden would have been a lot more outspoken against the pro-Hamas encampments seen on college campuses all over the US. But he sat on this thumbs until the pressure became so great for him to say something, and then he only gave a 3 minute or so statement and then went back into hiding on the issue.