Research | The Leader Board | THE NEWSROOM | Republican LeaderSkip to primary navigation Skip to content×Close THE NEWSROOMRemarks Press Releases The Leader Board Op-Eds Videos SENATE RESOURCESRepublican Senators Committees Congressional Record Congress.gov Senate Floor Webcast ABOUT LEADER McCONNELL×Close THE NEWSROOMRemarks Press Releases The Leader Board Op-Eds Videos SENATE RESOURCESRepublican Senators Committees Congressional Record Congress.gov Senate Floor Webcast ABOUT LEADER McCONNELLxxsearchxMENUFacebookTwitterInstagramFacebookTwitterInstagramVisit Senator McConnell's site here THE NEWSROOMRemarks Press Releases The Leader Board Op-Eds Videos SENATE RESOURCESRepublican Senators Committees Congressional Record Congress.gov Senate Floor Webcast ABOUT LEADER McCONNELLxxsearchxMENUHomeTHE NEWSROOMThe Leader Board07.23.24Congressional Democrats Turn Their Backs On IsraelAs The Israeli Prime Minister Addresses A Joint Session Of Congress This Week, Far-Left Democrats Have Announced Their Intentions To Boycott Or Even Disrupt It, And The Biden-Harris Administration Continues To Vent Its Anger At The Prime Minister, All As Israel Is Still Fighting Off Attacks From Iran And Its Terrorist Proxies SENATE REPUBLICAN LEADER MITCH McCONNELL (R-KY): “Tomorrow, the Capitol will welcome Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, the democratically elected leader of America’s closest ally in the Middle East, to address a joint meeting of Congress for the fourth time. It’s a pivotal moment for the U.S.-Israel alliance and for Israel’s war against savage Iran-backed terrorists. This is an existential conflict for Israel. But it’s also a test of America’s reliability and a challenge to the entire free world. I look forward to hearing the Prime Minister’s remarks. Unfortunately, some of the leaders who could learn the most from the experience of the battle-tested, duly-elected leader of a sovereign democracy will not be among us. The Vice President, who traditionally presides over joint sessions of Congress, apparently can’t spare the time to demonstrate even symbolic support for the only democracy in the Middle East. Of course, Israel deserves more than symbolism. It deserves the time, space, and material support to guarantee its security and defeat the terrorists who started this war. But no matter how many times I say it… No matter how many of our colleagues affirm Israel’s right to exist… No matter how sternly the President insists that his commitment to Israel is ‘ironclad’… America’s actions speak otherwise. The Administration’s policy toward Israel has often compounded the challenges our ally faces. It has withheld critical military assistance, and tried to micromanage Israel’s military operations. Washington Democrats have struggled to forcefully condemn the scourge of anti-Semitism and terrorist sympathy running rampant across university campuses and throughout the American left. Instead, they’ve indulged the mob, engaging in grotesquely hypocritical efforts to meddle in Israeli domestic politics and call for the removal of its democratically elected leader. And this is just the past nine months…. Today, America and our partners are reaping the consequences of the Biden Administration’s weakness.” (Sen. McConnell, Remarks, 7/23/2024)· LEADER McCONNELL: “As much as some of our colleagues might like them to be, Democrats’ egregious and hypocritical attempts to influence Israeli domestic politics aren’t some simple or narrow critique of a particular prime minister. They’re an affront to the very independence of the state of Israel – a sovereign nation, a robust democracy, and one of America’s closest allies and friends. Not a colony. Not a vassal state. Not some appendage of our own domestic politics. As I said …, our Democratic colleagues don’t have an anti-Bibi problem. They have an anti-Israel problem.” (Sen. McConnell, Remarks, 3/20/2024)· LEADER McCONNELL: “It is grotesque and hypocritical for Americans who hyperventilate about foreign interference in our own democracy to call for the removal of the democratically elected leader of Israel…. We should not treat fellow democracies this way at all. Things that upset left-wing activists are not a prime minister’s policies – they are Israel’s policies…. Israel is not a colony of America whose leaders serve at the pleasure of the party in power in Washington. Only Israel’s citizens should have a say in who runs their government. This is the very definition of democracy and sovereignty.” (Sen. McConnell, Remarks, 3/14/2024) ‘Democrats Are Anticipating A Large Chunk Of Their Caucus To Sit Out Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s Address To A Joint Session Congress’“A growing chorus of House Democrats say they’re planning to steer clear of next month’s speech by Benjamin Netanyahu before a joint meeting of Congress, arguing that the Israeli prime minister’s handling of the Hamas war — and his repeated snubbing of President Biden’s preferred approach to the conflict — demand a show of protest from liberals on Capitol Hill.” (“Momentum Grows Behind Democratic Boycott Of Netanyahu Speech,” The Hill, 6/10/2024)· “It’s a clear preview of the Netanyahu address’ likely divisive effect on a Democratic Party already split over U.S. support for his military push in Gaza.” (“Dems To Netanyahu: Stay Home,” Politico, 6/04/2024)“Democrats are anticipating a large chunk of their caucus to sit out Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s address to a joint session Congress.” (“Congress Braces For ‘Large’ Boycott, Disruptions Of Netanyahu Speech,” Axios, 6/04/2024)· “Dozens of Democratic lawmakers have said they’ll boycott Netanyahu’s speech, mainly because of Israel’s actions in the Gaza war. Some Democrats think that as many as 100 House and Senate Dems won’t show up.” (“Bibi Seeks Validation In His Visit To A Turbulent D.C.,” Axios, 7/22/2024)“A number of prominent progressives, most notably Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), won’t attend the speech over Netanyahu’s handling of the war in Gaza following the October 7 attacks by Hamas. 1,195 Israelis were killed in the attacks, according to the Israeli government, and 251 others were taken hostage.” (“Netanyahu’s Upcoming Congress Speech Is Further Dividing Dems,” Politico, 7/19/2024)· “But no matter what he [Netanyahu] says about his nation’s ongoing war in Gaza, he’ll get a frosty reaction from a hefty bloc of Democrats.” (“Dems To Netanyahu: Stay Home,” Politico, 6/04/2024)‘“A Number [Of Democrats] Are Going And Disrupting” The Speech’“Another, senior House Democrat said it is ‘all being discussed’ and that ‘a number [of Democrats] are going and disrupting’ the speech.” (“Congress Braces For ‘Large’ Boycott, Disruptions Of Netanyahu Speech,” Axios, 6/04/2024)“A boycott may not be the only way lawmakers showcase their opposition to Netanyahu when he visits Washington next month. Rep. Lloyd Doggett (D-Texas), a deputy whip for the Congressional Progressive Caucus who has served in the House since 1995, said conversations are underway about the best method for protesting the controversial speech. ‘There’s still some debate about the best way to respond to his coming,’ Doggett told The Hill.” (“Momentum Grows Behind Democratic Boycott Of Netanyahu Speech,” The Hill, 6/10/2024)· “‘He needs to be staying in Israel and working for the peace that he has been unwilling to support in the past,’ Doggett echoed. ‘Despite the Hamas atrocities and all the wrong that exists there, the indiscriminate bombing that he has encouraged that has led to loss of lives that should never have happened. He has not prioritized the hostages; he ought to be doing that instead of coming here.’” (“Momentum Grows Behind Democratic Boycott Of Netanyahu Speech,” The Hill, 6/10/2024) Far-Left Democrats Have Raged About Congress’ Invitation To Israel’s Prime Minister To Speak“Progressive Democrats have long denounced Netanyahu’s conservative policies, including his sharp criticisms of the Iran nuclear deal under former President Obama, which led to a boycott of the prime minister’s last speech to Congress almost a decade ago.” (“Momentum Grows Behind Democratic Boycott Of Netanyahu Speech,” The Hill, 6/10/2024)· “At least 58 lawmakers skipped that speech, according to CNN, some of whom are planning to avoid the event again, including Doggett and Rep. Jan Schakowsky (Ill.), a Jewish Democrat.” (“Momentum Grows Behind Democratic Boycott Of Netanyahu Speech,” The Hill, 6/10/2024)“Former Speaker Nancy Pelosi had said Mr. Schumer should not add his name to the invitation.” (“Congressional Leaders, Divided Over War, Invite Netanyahu to Deliver Joint Address,” The New York Times, 5/31/2024)· REP. NANCY PELOSI (D-CA): “Absolutely no. I think this is wrong.” (“Momentum Grows Behind Democratic Boycott Of Netanyahu Speech,” The Hill, 6/10/2024)“Even staunch Israel allies like Rep. Steny Hoyer (D-Md.) — a former majority leader — called the requested address an ‘ill-timed visit.’” (“Dems To Netanyahu: Stay Home,” Politico, 6/04/2024)· REP. STENY HOYER (D-MD): “There will be a lot of disruption, and it will not be helpful for Israel or its supporters…” (“Dems To Netanyahu: Stay Home,” Politico, 6/04/2024)“Progressives like Sens. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) and Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) have been even more outspoken in their criticism of the bipartisan invitation since Hill leaders extended it last week.” (“Dems To Netanyahu: Stay Home,” Politico, 6/04/2024)· SEN. ELIZABETH WARREN (D-MA): “Benjamin Netanyahu has created a humanitarian crisis, and we should not give him a platform in front of the United States Congress…” (“Dems To Netanyahu: Stay Home,” Politico, 6/04/2024)· “Among the most vocal critics of both parties for extending the invite is Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), who called it ‘a very sad day for our country’ that Democrats and Republicans agreed to hear from the prime minister amid international frustration over the civilian toll that operations in Gaza have taken on Palestinians.” (“Dems To Netanyahu: Stay Home,” Politico, 6/04/2024)· SEN. BERNIE SANDERS (I-VT): “I will not be going to listen to Mr. Netanyahu … I think he never should have been invited. And I think it’s a real problem for the Biden administration...” (“Netanyahu’s Upcoming Congress Speech Is Further Dividing Dems,” Politico, 7/19/2024)“[M]ore and more progressive Democrats are emerging with a formal declaration of their own: We won’t be there.” (“Momentum Grows Behind Democratic Boycott Of Netanyahu Speech,” The Hill, 6/10/2024)· “House progressives were even more pointed: ‘We should not platform more war criminals period,’ said Rep. Cori Bush (D-Mo.). ‘He should not come to this house.’” (“Dems To Netanyahu: Stay Home,” Politico, 6/04/2024)· “Congressional Progressive Caucus Chair Pramila Jayapal (D-Wash.) told Axios the boycott ‘will be large’ and that there are ‘a lot of people who are extremely upset he is coming here.’” (“Congress Braces For ‘Large’ Boycott, Disruptions Of Netanyahu Speech,” Axios, 6/04/2024)· “Rep. Jim McGovern (D-Mass.), the progressive ranking member of the House Rules Committee, told Axios he will not attend and said: ‘I wish it wasn’t [happening].’” (“Congress Braces For ‘Large’ Boycott, Disruptions Of Netanyahu Speech,” Axios, 6/04/2024)· “‘I won’t attend and turn my back towards him,’ Rep. Hank Johnson (D-Ga.) said. ‘So I’m just gonna stay away.’” (“Momentum Grows Behind Democratic Boycott Of Netanyahu Speech,” The Hill, 6/10/2024)· “‘I’m not planning on attending, and/or I’ll be participating in whatever events there are to express that we want this war to end and we want both him and Hamas to agree to a cease-fire,’ said Rep. Greg Casar (D-Texas), a first-term member.” (“Momentum Grows Behind Democratic Boycott Of Netanyahu Speech,” The Hill, 6/10/2024)“Hundreds of congressional staff signed onto an anonymous letter on Thursday urging members not to attend the speech.” (“Netanyahu’s Upcoming Congress Speech Is Further Dividing Dems,” Politico, 7/19/2024)Other Democrats Floated Conditioning Whether Israel’s Prime Minister Would Be Allowed To Address Congress“Judiciary Chair @SenatorDurbin, D-Ill., just told me, when I asked, that he would not have invited Israeli PM Netanyahu to address Congress now. Not ‘until he embraces a two-state solution’.” (Lisa Desjardins, @LisaDNews, Twitter, 6/4/2024)SEN. CHRIS MURPHY (D-CT): “I’m generally not supportive of closing our doors to foreign leaders … I just really worry that if this visit happens in the absence of any progress on a peace deal and a hostage release, it’s just going to be about benefiting Netanyahu’s personal politics back home.” (“Dems To Netanyahu: Stay Home,” Politico, 6/04/2024)· MURPHY: “I don’t think there’s any other way to say it: Netanyahu has been an absolute disaster for Israel’s support around the world.” (“Netanyahu’s Split With Biden And The Democrats Was Years In The Making,” The Washington Post, 5/26/2024)“One House Democrat, speaking on the condition of anonymity, said a lot of members will ‘wait up until the very end to decide’ whether they will attend, calling it a ‘very fluid, unpredictable situation.’ The lawmaker said that whether there is a ceasefire in Gaza by the time Netanyahu speaks will be the key factor, predicting anywhere from 50 to 100 Democrats will skip the speech if the war is still raging.” (“Congress Braces For ‘Large’ Boycott, Disruptions Of Netanyahu Speech,” Axios, 6/04/2024) President Biden And Vice President Harris Continue To Demonstrate Anything But ‘Ironclad’ Support For Israel “President Joe Biden was so staunchly supportive of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu when the Israel-Hamas war broke out that observers called Biden’s approach a bear hug. That bear hug is turning into a vice-like grip. The president and his aides are working to make sure Netanyahu is feeling the squeeze from all sides to quickly bring the war to an end. Biden is getting more combative himself, pushing rhetorically and behind the scenes to increase pressure from regional powers, the United Nations, aid groups, Israeli citizens and Netanyahu’s political allies and foes alike.” (“How Biden Is Putting The Heat On Netanyahu,” Politico, 6/06/2024)· “In many ways, the Biden team is going beyond its past efforts to persuade Netanyahu to act on U.S. advice, turning to more people and institutions than usual so that the Israeli prime minister feels the heat no matter where he turns.” (“How Biden Is Putting The Heat On Netanyahu,” Politico, 6/06/2024)· “‘It feels a bit like a blunt-force instrument,’ said Jonathan Lord, a former Defense Department official.” (“How Biden Is Putting The Heat On Netanyahu,” Politico, 6/06/2024)Q: “Some in Israel have suggested that Netanyahu is prolonging the war for his own political self-preservation. Do you believe that?”PRESIDENT JOE BIDEN: “I’m not going to comment on that. There is every reason for people to draw that conclusion. And I would cite tha as—before the war began, the blowback he was getting from the Israeli military for wanting to change the constitu—change the court. And so it’s an internal domestic debate that seems to have no consequence. And whether he would change his position or not, it’s hard to say, but it has not been helpful.” (“Read the Full Transcript of President Joe Biden’s Interview With TIME,” Time, 6/04/2024)· BIDEN: “And by the way, I’ve been calling for—we should have a ceasefire, period.” (“Read the Full Transcript of President Joe Biden’s Interview With TIME,” Time, 6/04/2024)· BIDEN: “I think they’ve engaged in activity that is inappropriate. That is…When I went over immediately after the—Hamas’ brutal attack, I said then, and it became public, I said, don’t make the same mistake we did going after bin Laden. Don’t try—The idea of occupying Afghanistan, the idea that you had nuclear arsenals in Iran, that were being, I mean, in Iraq, that were being generated, simply not true. And it led to endless wars. They were not true. Don’t make the mistakes we made. And they’re making that mistake, I think. Excuse my voice, I apologize.” (“Read the Full Transcript of President Joe Biden’s Interview With TIME,” Time, 6/04/2024)Vice President Harris Refused To Preside Over The Joint Session To Hear The Israeli Prime Minister’s Address As President Of The Senate, As Did The Democrat President Pro Tempore“Vice President Kamala Harris has declined to preside on Wednesday when Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of Israel is scheduled to address a joint meeting of Congress, staying away from a gathering that is likely to highlight the deep divisions among Democrats about his conduct of the war with Hamas.” (“A Senator Will Preside at Netanyahu’s Speech to Congress After Harris Declines,” The New York Times, 7/22/2024)· “Typically, the vice president, as the president of the Senate, sits on the House rostrum beside the House speaker during joint meetings to receive a foreign leader, appearing just behind the visiting dignitary in a tacit show of support and welcome. But this week, Democrats are turning instead to Senator Benjamin Cardin of Maryland, who chairs the Foreign Relations Committee, to sit beside Speaker Mike Johnson and behind Mr. Netanyahu, according to two people familiar with the plans, who spoke about them on the condition of anonymity.” (“A Senator Will Preside at Netanyahu’s Speech to Congress After Harris Declines,” The New York Times, 7/22/2024)“Senator Patty Murray, Democrat of Washington and the president pro tempore, who is third in line to the presidency, also was asked to preside in Ms. Harris’s stead but declined. Ms. Murray is not planning to attend the speech at all, a spokesman said.” (“A Senator Will Preside at Netanyahu’s Speech to Congress After Harris Declines,” The New York Times, 7/22/2024)Harris ‘Appears More Willing To Publicly Criticize Netanyahu’ And Israeli Strategy“Harris, now the front-runner for the Democratic presidential nomination after Biden withdrew from the race and endorsed her, appears more willing to publicly criticize Netanyahu … In March, White House National Security Council officials toned down parts of Harris’ speech about the need then for a six-week cease-fire and hostage release deal between Israel and Hamas, NBC News has reported. The original draft of her remarks was harsher on Israel …” (“Harris May Be More Willing To Criticize Netanyahu Than Biden,” NBC News, 7/21/2024)· “Even before Harris called for a six-week cease-fire, people inside and outside the Biden administration who are critical of Biden’s handling of the war viewed Harris as wanting, but unable, to take a more forceful stance against the fighting in Gaza, a Democrat who helped elect Biden in 2020 told NBC News.” (“Administration Officials Watered Down Kamala Harris’ Gaza Speech Before Delivery,” NBC News, 3/04/2024)· “[Vice President Harris] has at times stepped out slightly ahead of the president in criticizing Israel’s military approach. In March, she bluntly stated that Israel was not doing enough to ease a ‘humanitarian catastrophe’ during its ground offensive in the Palestinian enclave. Later, she did not rule out ‘consequences’ for Israel if it launched a full-scale invasion of refugee-packed Rafah in southern Gaza.” (“Tougher Tone On Israel, Steady On NATO: How A Harris Foreign Policy Could Look,” Reuters, 7/22/2024)“[Harris] has often pushed the envelope of the administration’s messaging on the Israel-Gaza conflict…. As vice president, Harris hasn’t had an opportunity to define her own brand of foreign policy, though some observers say she might ultimately align herself more closely with the progressive elements of the Democratic Party and might be more inclined to make U.S. support for Israel more conditional on its conduct in Gaza and the West Bank.” (“Harris’s Support for Gaza Cease-Fire Hints at Foreign-Policy Shift,” The Wall Street Journal, 7/23/2024)VICE PRESIDENT KAMALA HARRIS: “We have been clear in multiple conversations and in every way that any major military operation in Rafah would be a huge mistake … Let me tell you something. I have studied the maps.” (“Kamala Harris Is Noncommittal On Gaza, The Border And Tiktok,” The New York Times, 3/24/2024)· “In March, Harris called for an ‘immediate cease-fire’ in Gaza due to the ‘humanitarian catastrophe.’ At the time, it was the most pointed call to stop the fighting from a member of the Biden administration.” (“Here's what Kamala Harris Has Said On Israel, Gaza Conflict,” USA Today, 7/22/2024)Harris Also Said Angry Antisemitic Protests On College Campuses Were ‘Showing Exactly What The Human Emotion Should Be’“United States Vice President Kamala Harris has expressed sympathy with the pro-Palestinian, anti-Israel protesters who have been staging campus encampments in colleges around the country … Young Americans protesting Israel’s war against the Hamas terror group in Gaza are ‘showing exactly what the human emotion should be,’ Harris said in an interview with the left-wing magazine The Nation, an excerpt of which was published on [July 8th].” (“Kamala Harris: Campus Protesters Over Gaza War ‘Showing What Human Emotion Should Be,’” The Times Of Israel, 7/10/2024)REMINDER: The Biden Administration Held Up Arms Shipments ‘To Send A Political Message To Israel’“The Biden administration is holding up shipments of two types of Boeing-made precision bombs to send a political message to Israel, according to a U.S. official and six other people with knowledge of the deliberations…. While the Biden administration has not formally denied the potential sale, it is essentially taking action through inaction — holding off on approvals and other aspects of the weapons transfer process — to send a message to Israel, a U.S. administration official familiar with the process told POLITICO.” (“US Concerns Over Israel’s Gaza Policy Led To Weapons Holdup,” Politico, 5/07/2024)· “A second U.S. official … described the move as a ‘shot across the bow’ intended to underscore to Israeli leaders the seriousness of U.S. concerns about the offensive in Rafah …” (“U.S. Paused Shipment Of Thousands Of Bombs To Israel Amid Rafah Rift,” The Washington Post, 5/07/2024)PRESIDENT BIDEN: “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 Says He Will Stop Sending Bombs And Artillery Shells To Israel If It Launches Major Invasion Of Rafah,” CNN, 5/09/2024)SEN. SHELLEY MOORE CAPITO (R-WV): “Are those reports false then, that I’m reading?”SECRETARY OF DEFENSE LLOYD AUSTIN: “No, we are currently reviewing some near-term security assistance shipments in the context of the unfolding events in Rafah.”SEN. CAPITO: “So we are withholding our shipments of weapons predicated on the strategy that Israel’s employing and going into Rafah? Is that the bottom line here?”AUSTIN: “We are assessing, we have not made any final decisions on this yet, but to answer your question, yes.” (U.S. Senate Appropriations Subcommittee On Defense Hearing, 5/08/2024)That Decision ‘Represents A Significant Turning Point In The 76-Year-Old Relationship Between The United States And Israel’“The hold on the bombs represents a significant turning point in the 76-year-old relationship between the United States and Israel, historically one of the closest security partnerships in the world.” (“Turning Point or Breaking Point? Biden’s Pause on Weapons Tests Ties to Israel.” The New York Times, 5/08/2024)· “Biden’s comments and his decision last week to pause the shipment of heavy bombs to Israel are the most striking manifestations of the growing daylight between his administration and Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government.” (“Biden Says US Won’t Supply Weapons For Israel To Attack Rafah, In Warning To Ally,” The Associated Press, 5/09/2024)“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.” (“Biden Says He Will Stop Sending Bombs And Artillery Shells To Israel If It Launches Major Invasion Of Rafah,” CNN, 5/09/2024)“The comment from Biden to CNN is a major setback for Israel’s war. The US is by far Israel’s most important and most powerful ally, and without its support, Israel’s firepower and ambitions in Gaza would be weakened.” (“Biden’s Threat To Halt Weapons Deliveries Sparks Anger And Infighting Among Israeli Officials,” CNN, 5/09/2024) The Politicized Approach To Israel From The Biden-Harris Administration Continues While Israel Is Fighting Off Attacks From Iran And Its Terrorist ProxiesIn The Last Few Days, The Iranian-Backed Houthis Launched Drone And Missile Attacks At Israel“A tipping point for Israel appears to have come on Friday, when a drone attack was launched on Tel Aviv, killing one Israeli citizen and injuring several others. The attack was claimed by the Houthis … Israel Defense Forces (IDF) spokesman Daniel Hagari said that the military suspects the drone was an Iranian-made Samad-3 model, launched from Yemen, which had been upgraded to extend its range.” (“Israel Strikes Yemen For The First Time Following Deadly Houthi Drone Attack,” CNN, 7/22/2024)· “The Israeli military said it intercepted a missile fired from Yemen early Sunday, hours after Israeli warplanes struck several Houthi targets in the Arabian Peninsula country…. The Israeli military said that the surface-to-surface missile fired Sunday was intercepted before reaching Israeli territory.” (“Israel Shoots Down A Missile Fired From Yemen Hours After A Deadly Israeli Strike On Houthi Rebels,” The Associated Press, 7/21/2024)“The Houthis are among several Iranian-backed groups to have attacked Israel in solidarity with Hamas since the Oct. 7 attack by the Palestinian militant group triggered the ongoing Israeli offensive in Gaza. In addition to fighting Hamas, the Israeli military has been engaged in daily clashes with the Hezbollah militant group in Lebanon.” (“Israel Shoots Down A Missile Fired From Yemen Hours After A Deadly Israeli Strike On Houthi Rebels,” The Associated Press, 7/21/2024)A Direct Iranian Attack On Israel In April Marked ‘A New Strategic Reality’“Saturday’s Iranian strike on Israel was huge by any standard. Tehran launched more than 170 explosive-laden drones, around 120 ballistic missiles and about 30 cruise missiles, according to Israel. The damage could have been catastrophic. As it turned out, almost all were intercepted.” (“Analysis: Israel Repelled Iran’s Huge Attack. But Only With Help From U.S. and Arab Partners,” The Wall Street Journal, 4/14/2024)· “Iran’s weekend aerial attack on Israel was designed to cause mass casualties and infrastructure damage, senior U.S. officials said, an assessment that complicates deliberations on how to respond to Tehran and its military allies in the coming weeks.” (“Iran Sought Mass Casualties In Israel Strike, U.S. Officials Say,” Semafor, 4/14/2024)“[A] new strategic reality, created by Iran’s first direct military attack on Israeli territory since the Islamic revolution of 1979.” (“Analysis: Israel Repelled Iran’s Huge Attack. But Only With Help From U.S. and Arab Partners,” The Wall Street Journal, 4/14/2024)· “But Israeli government officials said that Tehran had crossed a clear red line by attacking Israel directly from Iranian soil for the first time in history. They also said the nature of the targets — believed to be major civilian areas and military infrastructure —required a response if their country is to restore deterrence against Iran and its regional allies.” (“Iran Sought Mass Casualties In Israel Strike, U.S. Officials Say,” Semafor, 4/14/2024)This Is All Happening As Iran Continues To Advance Its Capability To Eventually Produce A Nuclear Weapon“US Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Friday said that Iran’s breakout time – the amount of time needed to produce enough weapons grade material for a nuclear weapon – ‘is now probably one or two weeks’ as Tehran has continued to develop its nuclear program.” (“Blinken Says Iran’s Nuclear Weapon Breakout Time Is Probably Down To 1-2 Weeks,” CNN, 7/19/2024)· “The assessment marks the shortest breakout time that US officials have ever referenced and comes as Iran has taken steps in recent months to boost its production of fissile material. ‘Where we are now is not in a good place,’ the top US diplomat said at the Aspen Security Forum Friday.” (“Blinken Says Iran’s Nuclear Weapon Breakout Time Is Probably Down To 1-2 Weeks,” CNN, 7/19/2024)“Iran is talking more about getting a nuclear bomb and has made strides in developing a key aspect of a weapon since about April, when Israel and its allies overpowered a barrage of Iranian airstrikes targeting Israel, two top Biden administration officials said Friday.” (“US Says Iran Moving Forward On A Key Aspect Of Developing A Nuclear Bomb,” The Associated Press, 7/19/2024)Yet The Biden-Harris Administration’s Approach To Iran Plods Ahead On ‘Auto-Pilot’“The Biden administration engaged in more than a year of indirect negotiations with Iran aimed at reviving the Iran nuclear deal, from which the US withdrew in 2018 under the Trump administration. Those efforts collapsed in late 2022, as the US accused Iran of making ‘unreasonable’ demands related to a probe by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), a UN nuclear watchdog, into unexplained traces of uranium found at undisclosed Iranian sites. In the months that followed, the administration maintained that the Iran nuclear deal was ‘not on the agenda.’” (“Blinken Says Iran’s Nuclear Weapon Breakout Time Is Probably Down To 1-2 Weeks,” CNN, 7/19/2024)“‘What’s breathtaking is the complete lack of self-awareness that it was his own maximum deference policy that brought us to this moment, and worse, that his solution is to double down on the failed appeasement strategy,’ Rich Goldberg, senior advisor at the Foundation for the Defense of Democracies and former Trump administration NSC official, told Fox News Digital. ‘Rather than snapping back the U.N. sanctions and testing maximum pressure, the administration just extended a sanctions waiver and is conducting indirect negotiations via Oman,’ Goldberg lamented.” (“Iran ‘One To Two Weeks Away’ From Weapons-Grade Nuclear Material As US Continues Sanctions Relief,” Fox News, 7/20/2024)“Behnam Ben Taleblu, a senior fellow at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies with a focus on Iranian security and political issues, told Fox News Digital that the Biden administration has remained on ‘auto-pilot’ and pursued ‘short-sighted’ policies when it comes to Iran, at their own peril. ‘With stories about Iran-backed plots to kill the former president and reports of weaponization related work in Tehran, the last thing Washington should be green-lighting is yet another waiver extension that permits the Islamic Republic to free up revenues to continue to underwrite more global terror and domestic nuclear expansion,’ Taleblu said. ‘It’s one thing to see the need to help wean Baghdad off of Tehran and Iranian electricity and energy, but it’s another to continue to use this as a crutch for a better policy towards both Iraq and Iran.’” (“Iran ‘One To Two Weeks Away’ From Weapons-Grade Nuclear Material As US Continues Sanctions Relief,” Fox News, 7/20/2024) ###SENATE REPUBLICAN COMMUNICATIONS CENTERRelated Issues: Iran, Iran Nuclear Deal, Israel, House Democrats, Senate DemocratsPrintEmailTweetPreviousTHE NEWSROOMSENATE RESOURCESABOUT LEADER McCONNELLFacebookTwitterInstagram
