Biden issues veto threat on ‘misguided’ GOP gun bill for Israel

The White House said Tuesday that President Biden would veto a GOP bill aimed at pressuring him to send weapons to Israel, calling it a “misguided reaction to a deliberate distortion of the Administration’s approach toward Israel.” ”.

The backlash comes ahead of an expected vote this week on the Israel Security Assistance Support Act. GOP lawmakers introduced the bill after Biden warned he would withhold certain offensive weapons from Israel if his forces invade Rafah in Gaza.

But the White House warned that the legislation “would undermine the President’s ability to execute an effective foreign policy.”

“This bill may raise serious concerns about violating the President’s authorities under Article II of the Constitution, including his duties as Commander-in-Chief and Chief Executive and his power to conduct foreign relations,” he said. the White House in an administration statement. policy.

“The President was clear: we will always ensure that Israel has what it needs to defend itself. Our commitment to Israel is unyielding,” the White House added.

The US already suspended a bomb shipment to Israel earlier this month due to concerns of an imminent full-scale invasion of Rafah. Officials said the large bombs were held back because of the damage they could cause in high-density areas.

Biden warned in a CNN interview last week that he would stop supplying Israel with offensive weapons, such as bombs and artillery shells, if Israeli forces launched an invasion of Rafah, where about a million refugees have settled after fleeing fighting in the north. of Gaza. He said the US would continue to supply defensive materials such as missiles to Iron Dome regardless of Israel’s actions.

The House bill calls for the “expedited delivery” of defense supplies and services to Israel, condemns the Biden administration’s decision to suspend shipments to Israel, and reaffirms Israel’s right to self-defense.

It also calls for funds for the Secretaries of Defense and State and the National Security Council to be withheld until defense items are delivered to Israel.

White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said Monday that the administration was “strongly opposed” to the bill and that the White House planned to “spend every last penny appropriated in accordance with legal obligations, including in the recent…national security supplement that was just approved.”

In late April, Biden signed a national security package that included $61 billion in aid to Ukraine in its war against Russia and $15 billion in military aid to Israel, which has been fighting Hamas after the group killed more than 1,100 Israelis in attacks last October.

This story originally appeared on thehill.com read the full story