US Sen Cotton, McConnell to President Biden: ‘We condemn your continued delay of critical weapons to Israel’

United States Republican Senator Tom Cotton and Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell sent a joint letter to U.S. President Joe Biden on Wednesday urging his administration to stop an alleged delay of weapons supply to Israel.

“We have reason to believe your administration is currently delaying three critical types of military weapons or equipment,” the senators implied, contrary to previous denials by White House officials.  

“We write to strongly condemn your administration's continued delay in providing critical military equipment and weapons to our ally Israel in the midst of an existential war. Delays of equipment that Israel requires to win its multi-front war against Iranian-terrorist proxies, compounded by statements by administration officials blaming Israel for escalation, undercut Israel’s efforts to restore deterrence by emboldening the Iranian-backed terrorists,” read the letter. 

According to Cotton and McConnell, the weapons and ammunition being withheld include MK-84 bombs used to hit Hamas and Hezbollah terror tunnels and infrastructure; Apache attack helicopters; and Caterpillar D9 tractors used by the Israeli military to clear improvised explosive devices (IEDs) ahead of its troops. 

“Further delays will endanger Israeli lives, increase the likelihood that the conflict will escalate further, and harm American national security interests. It's far past time to transfer to Israel the capabilities it needs to win,” stated the Republican senators.

On Monday, McConnell delivered scathing remarks in support of Israel on the Senate floor, criticizing the Biden administration for its handling of the war. 

“If the President and Vice President want to see an end to war in Gaza and prevent greater hostilities in Lebanon, then it’s time to switch the focus of their diplomatic pressure,” he said. “Every time Administration officials try to tie Israel’s hands in public comments… And every time a U.S. Senator threatens to hold critical security assistance hostage… Hamas, Hezbollah, and their patrons in Tehran are emboldened.”

“If our colleagues want peace, it’s time to show support for a nation founded on peace… And resolve toward terrorists whose reason for existence is chaos and violence,” McConnell added. 

In an interview with Jake Tapper on CNN earlier this week, Cotton said the United States is not providing Israel with the “political and diplomatic support” it has needed since the beginning of the war.

“If rather than trying to put constant pressure on Israel – more pressure than we put on Iran and its terrorist networks – Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris would have simply adopted policy to let Israel win… the war with Hamas probably would have ended a long time ago,” Cotton argued.  

He went on to claim that a partial arms embargo on Israel by Biden and Harris “probably had the effect of prolonging the fighting.” 

Cotton explained that the weapons holdup does not just pertain to the 2,000-pound bombs which were delayed before Israel’s assault on Rafah in southern Gaza, but also mortar rounds, artillery shells, small-arms ammunition and the tractors.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu released a rare video statement in June, in which he revealed the White House was stalling the shipments of certain weapons. 

“It’s inconceivable that in the past few months, the administration has been withholding weapons and ammunitions to Israel,” he said. “Israel, America's closest ally, fighting for its life, fighting against Iran and our other common enemies. Secretary Blinken assured me that the administration is working day and night to remove these bottlenecks. I certainly hope that's the case. It should be the case.”

“During World War II, Churchill told the United States, 'Give us the tools, we'll do the job.' And I say, give us the tools and we'll finish the job a lot faster,” the Israeli prime minister concluded.

The White House then claimed that only one shipment was withheld. 

Last week, Senator Bernie Sanders (I-VT) announced that he is preparing several resolutions that would stop more than $20 billion in U.S. arms sales to Israel. 

“U.S.-provided weapons have caused massive death and suffering to innocent people in Gaza,” Sanders posted. His longshot effort is unlikely to pass.