House Oversight Republicans are demanding the Biden administration explain the timing of a weapons shipment pause to Israel.
In a letter to national security adviser Jake Sullivan, Republicans on the House Oversight Committee said they were “alarmed” by the Biden administration’s “willingness to play political games with U.S. taxpayer-funded assistance going to Israel.”
“Given President Biden’s scheduled speech on Tuesday, May 8, 2024, to mark Holocaust Remembrance Day, the White House Security Council reportedly chose to keep news of this decision to withhold vital military support out of the public’s attention until after his remarks,” the letter read. “The Committee seeks a briefing, as well as documents and information related to this decision, including any legal justification for withholding essential supplies from Israel in its fight against Hamas terrorists who still have Israeli and American hostages.”
The group alleged that the move not only jeopardized an ally but was made without proper transparency.
“The Committee finds both the decision to withhold essential military aid and hiding that decision from the public for political purposes disturbing, especially given that on President Biden’s first day in office, White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki pledged that the administration would, ‘bring transparency and truth back to government,’” it continued. “Hiding information from the public for political gain does not meet this Committee’s definition of transparency.”
“The Biden Administration’s priorities appear to be motivated by public perception, and not what is best for national security or diplomacy,” the letter added.
As a result, the group demanded a White House Security Council briefing on the administration’s reasoning, as well as all documentation related to the decision from Oct. 7 until now. The deadline for the information is May 24.
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In an interview with CNN on Wednesday, Biden said he would stop sending offensive munitions, including artillery shells and bombs, if Israel went ahead with its plans to invade Rafah in the Gaza Strip. The comments drew uproar from Republicans, while Democrats have been split in their response.
The Israeli war cabinet voted on Thursday to expand the ground operation in Rafah, though it isn’t clear if this would cross Biden’s red line, nor is it clear exactly what Biden’s red line on Rafah is. The Israel Defense Forces have already launched an invasion of Rafah and cut off the vital border crossing with Egypt.
