'United States of Israel': Backlash over House bill to expedite weapons shipment despite Biden veto threat

WASHINGTON, DC: In a heated session on Thursday, May 16, the House of Representatives passed the Israel Security Assistance Support Act, which will expedite delivery of US weapons to Israel amid its ongoing conflict with Hamas in the Gaza Strip.

The bill was approved with a vote of 224-187, with significant partisan divides marking the debate.

A divisive House vote on sending US weapons to Israel

The legislation saw 208 Republicans and 16 Democrats voting in favor, while 184 Democrats and three Republicans opposed it.

Introduced just two days earlier by Rep Ken Calvert (R-Calif), the bill also seeks to defund key figures in the Biden administration, including Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin, Secretary of State Antony Blinken, and the National Security Council, until the shipments are dispatched.

The bill has sparked considerable controversy, with the White House threatening a veto. President Biden argued that the legislation would hinder his ability to conduct "effective foreign policy" and criticized the bill's portrayal of the weapons shipment pause as a "distortion."

The administration had halted the delivery of 2,000-pound bombs to Israel, a move criticized by some Republicans as an "arms embargo."

“It is clear that Biden and [Senate Majority Leader Chuck] Schumer have turned their back on Israel,” House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) declared during a press conference on Thursday morning. “They are carrying water for Iran and its proxies.”

Johnson emphasized the necessity for US support, adding, “Israel needs to finish the job. And America needs to help Israel extinguish the flame of terror that is wrought by Hamas.” 

House Democrats, largely unified against the bill, dismissed it as a partisan maneuver. Democratic leadership actively whipped votes against the measure, underscoring the sharp political divisions on the issue.

Concerns were particularly high among Democrats following President Biden's interview on May 8, where he revealed he would withhold the bombs if Israel targeted Rafah, a densely populated area in Gaza considered a Hamas stronghold.

Despite the US administration's stance, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Yoav Gallant have vowed to continue their military operations to dismantle Hamas' infrastructure.

National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan explained that the bomb shipment was paused "because we do not believe they should be dropped in densely populated cities,” referring to Rafah, where an estimated one million civilians reside.

“We are continuing to send military assistance, and we will ensure that Israel receives the full amount provided in the supplemental,” Sullivan added.

Impeachment articles against Biden amid weapons shipment bill

The bill’s passage comes amid a backdrop of escalating tensions in Washington. Rep Cory Mills (R-Fla.) introduced articles of impeachment against Biden, accusing him of an illegal “abuse of power” for leveraging military aid to influence Israeli policy.

Meanwhile, more than two dozen Democrats criticized the administration for delaying the shipment, arguing that it undermined the security of both Israel and the US.

“[W]ithholding weapons shipments to Israel,” a letter led by Rep Josh Gottheimer (D-NJ) stated, “only emboldens our mutual enemies, including Hamas, Hezbollah, the Houthis, and other Iranian-backed proxies.”

Despite the pause on specific bomb shipments, the Biden administration has committed over $1 billion in other military supplies to Israel. This includes $700 million in tank ammunition, $500 million in tactical vehicles, and $60 million in mortar rounds, as reported by the Wall Street Journal.

Simcha D Rothman, a member of Israel’s parliament, expressed dismay at the shipment pause, calling it a breach of Biden's promise of "ironclad" support for Israel.

“A few weeks ago, even as Israel made it clear that it must go into Rafah to destroy Hamas, Congress voted with [an] overwhelming bipartisan majority to provide emergency military assistance,” the Knesset member said.

According to Rothman, it also sent “the wrong message” to Israel and America’s adversaries, from “the streets of Iran” to “Ivy League campuses.” He added, “They are chanting ‘Death to America, Death to Israel,'” 

The bill’s passage, however, provoked significant backlash among some Democratic aides. Outside the Capitol, Democratic staffers held signs urging lawmakers to "save Rafah," highlighting the humanitarian concerns tied to the conflict, the New York Post reported.

Weapons bill criticized on social media

Meanwhile, many on social media lamented the prioritization of foreign military aid over domestic issues.

"Why can’t they pass anything that actually helps the American people? They are supposed to work for us," one posted on X.

"United States of Israel," another wrote.

"Israel is the only thing the US government still works for," someone else alleged.

"They own Congress," a comment read.

"There’s always money to fund another person’s war but never to fix the economy," another lamented.

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