Biden says he will stop sending bombs and artillery shells to Israel

[LiberaBlueDem]

Biden says he will stop sending bombs and artillery shells to Israel if it launches major invasion of Rafah

https://www.cnn.com/2024/05/08/politics/joe-biden-interview-cnntv/index.html




Racine, Wisconsin CNN —

President Joe Biden said for the first time Wednesday he would halt some shipments of American weapons to Israel – which he acknowledged have been used to kill civilians in Gaza – if Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu orders a major invasion of the city of Rafah.

“Civilians have been killed in Gaza as a consequence of those bombs and other ways in which they go after population centers,” Biden told CNN’s Erin Burnett in an exclusive interview on “Erin Burnett OutFront,” referring to 2,000-pound bombs that Biden paused shipments of last week.

“I made it clear that if they go into Rafah – they haven’t gone in Rafah yet – if they go into Rafah, I’m not supplying the weapons that have been used historically to deal with Rafah, to deal with the cities – that deal with that problem,” Biden said.

The president’s announcement that he was prepared to condition American weaponry on Israel’s actions amounts to a turning point in the seven-month conflict between Israel and Hamas. And his acknowledgement that American bombs had been used to kill civilians in Gaza was a stark recognition of the United States’ role in the war.

[LiberaBlueDem]

1. Why now?

Why is Biden finally stopping arms
There is a law against sending weapons to other countries to be used for killing civilians.

Today is the day that Biden is supposed to tell congress if it thinks Israel will use the weapons for killing civilians. Everyone knows what the weapons will be used for and to send weapons would be breaking the law.

[David__77]

2. AIPAC and ADL are displeased, which in this context is a good sign.

[LiberaBlueDem]

3. I read AIPAC is not unhappy

Seems they see Israel making a political mistake?

However, what is for certain there are a few here who are unhappy.

[David__77]

4. No, AIPAC asserted that Biden's action is "dangerous" and against US interests.

Link to tweet

[LiberaBlueDem]

5. Maybe it was ADL?

AIPAC wants the USA to be a banana republic?

[David__77]

6. No. ADL said Biden's action "emboldens terror"

https://www.timesofisrael.com/liveblog_entry/after-biden-threat-adl-says-withholding-arms-from-israel-undermines-our-ally-emboldens-terror/

[LiberaBlueDem]

7. Damn

Can't remember where I read it.

At least Biden is not breaking the law, he's following it.