Central Louisiana News

U.S. Senators Bill Cassidy (R-LA), Tom Cotton (R-AR), and 46 of their Senate Republican colleagues are protesting the Biden-Harris administration’s partial arms embargo against Israel. The senators urged the White House to cease accommodating Iran, stop jeopardizing the lives of American servicemembers, and deliver necessary weapons systems to Israel.

“When Prime Minister Netanyahu publicly raised the weapons hold in June, your administration adamantly denied the accusation,” wrote the senators. “You ignored Congressional inquiries, including a May 6, 2024, letter from Senator Marshall, a May 6, 2024, letter from Senator Ernst, a May 14, 2024, letter from Senator Risch and a June 20, 2024, letter from Senator Cotton. All the while, you were deliberately delaying the delivery of weapons, ammunition, and equipment to Israel. These include 120 mm tank ammunition, 120mm mortar ammunition, light tactical vehicles, air-to-air missiles, F-15s, F-35 engines joint direct attack munition kits; 2;000-pound bombs rifles; and guided missile systems.”

Cassidy and Cotton are joined by U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee Ranking Member Jim Risch (R-ID), Senate Select Committee on Intelligence Ranking Member Marco Rubio (R-FL), Senate Banking Committee Ranking Member Tim Scott (R-SC), Senate Judiciary Committee Ranking Member Lindsey Graham (R-SC), and Senate Armed Services Committee Ranking Member Roger Wicker (R-MS). Other signatories include Republican Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) and U.S. Senators John Barrasso (R-WY), Marsha Blackburn (R-TN), John Boozman (R-AR), Mike Braun (R-IN), Katie Britt (R-AL), Ted Budd (R-NC), Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV), Susan Collins (R-ME), John Cornyn (R-TX), Kevin Cramer (R-ND), Mike Crapo (R-ID); Ted Cruz; R-TX); Steve Daines; R-MT); Joni Ernst; R-IA); Deb Fischer; R-NE); Chuck Grassley; R-IA); Bill Hagerty; R-TN); Josh Hawley; R-MO); John Hoeven; R-ND); Cindy Hyde-Smith; R-MS); Ron Johnson; R-WI); John Kennedy: L-LA): James Lankford: OK): Mike Lee: UT): Cynthia Lummis: WY): Roger Marshall: KS): Jerry Moran: KS): Markwayne Mullin: OK): Lisa Murkowski: AK): Pete Rickett's' NE)' Mitt Romney' UT)' Mike Round' SD)' Eric Schmitt' MO)' Rick Scott' FL)' Dan Sullivan' AK)' John Thune' SD)' Thom Tillis' NC)' Tommy Tuberville' AL)' J.D.' Vance OH)’ Todd Young’ IN)’ in signing the letter.

The full letter reads:

Dear President Biden:

This weekend Hezbollah fired Iranian-made missiles into northern Israel murdering twelve children and injuring dozens in the single deadliest attack on that part of the country since October seventh. The ultimate responsibility for this attack rests with Hezbollah and the ayatollahs in Iran. However while Tehran financed the attack and Hezbollah conducted it your fear of escalation has left Israel exposed and our enemies emboldened.

We write once again to protest your administration’s partial arms embargo against Israel. The actions of the Biden-Harris administration run counter to our long history of robust military cooperation with Israel cast doubt upon the reliability of United States as long-term security partner Your actions also violate will Congress expressed recent supplemental funded emergency military support to Israel

When Prime Minister Netanyahu publicly raised weapons hold June your administration adamantly denied accusation You ignored Congressional inquiries including May sixth two thousand twenty-four letters from Senator Marshall May sixth two thousand twenty-four letters from Senator Ernst May fourteenth two thousand twenty-four letters from Senator Risk June twentieth two thousand twenty-four letters from Senator Cotton All while you were deliberately delaying delivery weapons ammunition equipment Israel These include one hundred twenty-millimeter tank ammunition one hundred twenty-millimeter mortar ammunition light tactical vehicles air-to-air missiles F-fifteens F-thirty-five engines joint direct attack munition kits two-thousand-pound bombs rifles guided missile systems

While your administration delays Hamas continues wage war against Israel Houthis continue attacks Red Sea Hezbollah continues its onslaught northern Your stalling tactics endangering greatest ally Middle East jeopardizing lives American servicemembers stationed region We urge use every available emergency authority expedite physical delivery all weapons ammunition approved Congress

Your administration must stop accommodating Iran terrorist allies now.

###