By Patricia Zengerle
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – The Republican-led U.S. House of Representatives on Thursday approved a bill that would force the president Joe Biden to send weapons to Israel, seeking to rebuke the Democrat for delaying sending bombs while urging Israel to do more to protect civilians during its war with Hamas.
The Israel Security Assistance Support Act passed 224 votes to 187, largely along party lines. Sixteen Democrats joined a majority of Republicans in voting yes, and three Republicans joined a majority of Democrats in opposing the measure.
The bill is not expected to become law, but its passage highlighted the deep division in the US election year over Israel policy, as Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government tries to exterminate the militants who attacked Israel on October 7, killing around 1,200 people and taking 253 hostages. , according to Israeli records.
Palestinian authorities say at least 35,272 civilians were killed during Israel’s campaign in Gaza. Malnutrition is widespread and a large part of the coastal enclave’s population has been left without shelter, with infrastructure destroyed.
Republicans accused Biden of turning his back on Israel after facing widespread pro-Palestinian protests.
“This is a catastrophic decision with global implications. It’s obviously being made as a political calculation, and we can’t let that stand,” Republican House Speaker Mike Johnson said at a news conference with other party leaders on Wednesday.
Democrats also accused the other party of playing politics, saying Republicans are distorting Biden’s stance on Israel.
“It’s not a serious legislative effort, and that’s why some of the most pro-Israel members of the House Democratic caucus will vote no,” House Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries said at a press conference before the vote.
Israel, a major beneficiary of US military assistance for decades, is still expected to receive billions of dollars in US weapons despite the delay of a shipment of 2,000-pound (907 kg) and 500-pound bombs and the review of other weapons . shipments from the Biden administration.
Also on Tuesday, the State Department transferred a $1 billion arms aid package for Israel to the congressional review process, U.S. officials said.
(Reporting by Patricia Zengerle, additional reporting by Makini Brice; Editing by Alistair Bell)
