Risch: Democrats Continue to Turn their Backs on Israel

BOISE, Idaho – U.S. Senator Jim Risch (R-Idaho), ranking member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, today called out the Biden-Harris Administration and congressional Democrats for continuing to turn their back on Israel.

“While Israel continues to defend itself against Hamas, the Biden-Harris Administration and congressional Democrats are prioritizing pacifying the anti-Israel, and often anti-Semitic, sentiment among potential voters over supporting our close partner during a critical time of need,” said Risch. “American allies and partners are watching our government’s behavior closely. If Democrats don’t stop driving a wedge between us and our closest partner in the Middle East, then Iran, Hamas, Hezbollah, and others will take it as a sign that they can keep acting with impunity.”

Decisions made by the Biden-Harris Administration and congressional Democrats that have undermined Israel:

• On February 8, 2024, the Biden-Harris Administration released National Security Memorandum 20 which included a new arms transfer policy that prioritizes virtue signaling over the security needs of the United States and its partners. It is anti-Israel and calls into question the reliability of the administration.
• On March 14, 2024, Majority Leader Schumer said Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu should be replaced. The United States should not attempt to dictate domestic politics of other countries. The people of Israel are entitled to and should decide for themselves what they want their government and their future to look like.
• In May 2024, the Biden-Harris Administration decided to hold up certain arms sales to Israel without consulting Congress. The administration threatened Israel on network television and made it clear it is more concerned with satisfying the anti-Israel left than supporting our close ally.
• On May 10, 2024, the Biden-Harris Administration released a National Security Memorandum 20 report that gave Israel a politically damaging assessment while also publicly announcing it is withholding a select set of precision weapons.
• On May 20, 2024, the International Criminal Court (ICC) decided to apply for arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Israeli Defense Chief Yoav Gallant. As of August, the Department of Justice has yet to release its position on the ICC’s action against Israel.
• On May 21, 2024, during both a Senate Foreign Relations Committee hearing and a Senate Appropriations Subcommittee hearing, Secretary Blinken said the administration would support sanctions against the ICC for its actions against Israel and Senate Democrats agreed to work on bipartisan legislation to do so. Days later, the administration changed its mind and Senate Democrats have refused to move forward on legislation since.

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