On Thursday, Senator Lindsey Graham (R-SC), along with other Republican senators, expressed strong opposition to President Joe Biden's warning that the U.S. might withhold certain arms from Israel if Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu proceeds with a planned invasion of Rafah.
Rafah, a city in the southern Gaza Strip, is known as a Hamas stronghold and is currently providing refuge to over a million Palestinians. The President's comments came during an interview with Erin Burnett of CNN, where he criticized Israel's intention to launch a large-scale attack on the Palestinian city.
During a press conference, Senator Graham directly addressed President Biden, warning him of the potential consequences of his policy. He stated, "Mr. President if you do not change this policy, you will have destroyed the last best chance to deliver lasting stability in the Mideast for generations."
Graham further elaborated on the potential implications of the policy, emphasizing the message it sends to other nations. He said, "Saudi Arabia is watching. Would you as a nation sign a defense agreement with the United States knowing what we have just done to Israel? Is signing on the dotted line with the United States on a mutual defense agreement equivalent with outsourcing your national security to the United States? That is the message youre sending. Israel is being asked to turn the war fighting over to the United States. 'Let us plan how to do this, not you.' That is a huge mistake."
Graham also expressed his trust in Israel over Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin, criticizing Austin's support for the Afghanistan withdrawal. He warned, "I think the region and the world is going to second-guess future relationships with us, Mr. President, if you dont change your mind."
In his CNN interview, President Biden reaffirmed his commitment to Israel's security, saying, "Were going to continue to make sure Israel is secure in terms of Iron Dome and their ability to respond to attacks that came out of the Middle East recently. But its, its just wrong. Were not going to were not going to supply the weapons and artillery shells for a Rafa invasion."
In response, Prime Minister Netanyahu issued a statement, asserting, If we need to stand alone, we will stand alone. I have said that, if necessary, we will fight with our fingernails. But we have much more than fingernails and with that same strength of spirit, with Gods help, together we will win.
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