A group of pro-Israel Democratic members of the U.S. House of Representatives voiced strong disapproval following the passage of a resolution that could potentially undermine President Joe Biden’s authority to block arms shipments to Israel.
The dissenting Democrats labelled the vote a “shameful attempt to politicize Israel and the Jewish community in the U.S. political conflict.”
This legislative action comes on the heels of the House’s approval of a bill making weapon deliveries to Israel mandatory.
The move, initiated by Republicans, aims to intensify pressure on President Biden, who recently decided to suspend ammunition shipments to Israel amid its ongoing conflict with Hamas in Gaza, which has lasted over seven months.
Democrats are urging House Speaker Mike Johnson to halt the practice of “unilateral bill projects” and to restore bipartisan consensus in support of Israel, according to Axios.
In a statement, the Democratic lawmakers expressed their readiness to collaborate with their Republican colleagues to ensure that the U.S.-Israel relationship remains unharmed, to eliminate Hamas, and to secure the release of all hostages held by Hamas and other Palestinian factions in Gaza.
CNN reported that the bill would severely limit Biden’s ability to withhold, suspend, or cancel any arms shipments approved by Congress to Israel.
The legislation also demands that any previously suspended weapon shipments to Israel be delivered within 15 days from when the law takes effect.
Despite the controversy, the bill is unlikely to be rejected by the Senate, which is currently controlled by Democrats.
The White House has indicated that President Biden will sign the legislation once it is passed by Congress.
