WASHINGTON – The Republican-led House of Representatives passed a bill Thursday that would limit the president’s power to withhold arms transfers to Israel, in a vote that drew attention to divisions in the Democratic caucus over the Gaza war.
The bill passed the House 224-187. Sixteen Democrats voted yes, including Thomas Suozzi of New York, Jared Moskowitz of Florida, and Josh Gottheimer of New Jersey. Only three Republicans opposed it.
The vote is largely symbolic, and the bill is not expected to be taken up on the other side of the Capitol. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer of New York said the bill “is not going anywhere” and said the policy is dead.
Passage of the Israel Security Assistance Assistance Act, which prevents federal funds from being used to withhold defense services or weapons to Israel, came shortly after the White House halted arms shipments to U.S. allies.
House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-Louisiana) praised the bill’s passage but criticized the Biden administration for withholding certain weapons from Israel, including 2,000-pound and 500-pound bombs.
“The Biden administration’s decision to withhold arms is devastating and directly contrary to the will of Congress,” Johnson said in a statement.
He added that passing the bill sends a “clear message of solidarity and support for Israel” and called for “the urgent delivery of defense weapons to our most important ally in the Middle East.”
President Joe Biden said in an interview with CNN last week that the United States would not supply certain weapons to Israel if American forces invaded the southern Gaza city of Rafah. He said in an interview that Israel used a 2,000-pound bomb to kill Palestinian civilians.
The White House emphasized its opposition to the House Republican bill in a statement Tuesday, saying it would “undermine the President’s ability to conduct effective foreign policy.” The statement also said Biden would veto the bill if it reached his desk.
After the vote, National Security Council Spokesperson Adrian Watson called the bill a “deliberate distortion” of Biden’s policies, saying the bill was “not about helping Israel, but about scoring political points.” The purpose is to make money.”
“President Biden will put his support behind Israel behind everyone and ensure that Israel has everything it needs to defeat Hamas,” Watson said in a statement. “President Biden is also committed to protecting innocent civilians.”
About 20 pro-Palestinian members of Congress demonstrated outside the Capitol ahead of the House vote, calling on Biden and Congress to “immediately end U.S. support for Israel’s attacks on civilians in Gaza,” a House official said. said Samantha Elganayan. Ro Khanna told NBC News.
Protests by parliamentary staff are relatively rare, and Elghanayan said they are protesting on their personal time rather than as part of their job.
Congressman Mike Lawler (New York) called for the staff to be fired.
“They have no business taking taxpayers’ money. That’s what they’re doing by coming to a protest during work hours, to express an opinion that frankly no one asked for. “We’re wasting that tax money,” he said.
