Washington, D.C. — Senator Tom Cotton (R-Arkansas) today sent a letter to President Joe Biden condemning the Biden-Harris administration’s continued delay of critical weapons shipments to Israel amid its ongoing conflict. Despite public declarations of “ironclad support” for Israel, the administration has repeatedly slowed the approval process for key munitions or denied their delivery. Senator Cotton highlighted the harmful impact of these delays on Israel’s security, America’s credibility, and efforts to counter Iran’s growing influence in the region.

 In part, Senator Cotton wrote:

“You have the authority to fast-track all these weapons, as you demonstrated earlier in the war when you used congressionally authorized emergency procedures. Yet you’ve chosen to forgo these procedures now because the Israeli government hasn’t adopted your wartime philosophy of self-deterrence, half measures, and interminable delay.”

   Full text of the letter may be found here and below.

 November 26, 2024

President Joseph R. Biden
The White House
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW

Washington, DC 20500

 Dear President Biden:

 I write—for the fourth time— to condemn your administration’s continued denial and delay of needed weapons to Israel. You continue to profess “ironclad support” for Israel while your administration works behind the scenes to undermine their war effort. This duplicity and fecklessness have weakened our ally, emboldened Iran, and harmed America’s credibility.

 While you continue your public hold on the MK-84 2,000-pound bombs, your administration has manipulated Department of Defense, Department of State, and congressional approval processes to broaden the arms embargo behind the scenes. Here’s what we know:

• The Department of Defense is withholding or delaying the approval of thousands of MK-83 warheads and guidance kits as well as thousands of MK-82 guidance kits.
• The State Department is withholding or delaying the approval of thousands of AGM-114 Hellfire-2 Missiles as well as D-9 bulldozers that the IDF uses as bomb-clearing vehicles.
• The State Department is also refusing to prioritize Israel’s purchase of Apache helicopters above other buyers.

You have the authority to fast-track all these weapons, as you demonstrated earlier in the war when you used congressionally authorized emergency procedures. Yet you’ve chosen to forgo these procedures now because the Israeli government hasn’t adopted your wartime philosophy of self-deterrence, half measures, and interminable delay.

You’re thwarting the will of Congress, which appropriated funds for Israel’s defense. You’re also ignoring the will of the American people, who voted this month once again for a president who has always backed Israel to the hilt. As a result of that election, your failed Middle East policy will come to end either now or in two months, but it will end. The only real question is how many more Israelis will die because of your administration’s inexcusable scheming. It’s time to fast-track these weapons deliveries now.

Sincerely,

Tom Cotton

United States Senator