Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) said he trusts Israel more than Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin, as the Biden administration warns it will stop sending weapons to Israel if it invades Rafah.
“Number one, I trust Israel more than Austin. He further said [the] Withdrawing from Afghanistan was a good idea,” Graham said at a press conference on Thursday. “In short, there is a lot at stake here.”
Graham, speaking about his years-long negotiating efforts between Saudi Arabia and Israel, said President Biden’s threat to withhold weapons from Israel could ruin potential stability in the Middle East.
“I think the region and the world will question future relations with us, Mr President, if you do not change your mind,” he said in comments. highlighted by Mediaite.
This is not the first time Graham has criticized Lloyd and the Biden administration’s Israeli tactics. In December, he labeled Austin “naive” for saying Israel risks a “strategic defeat” if it does not protect civilians in Gaza, adding that he had lost faith in the Pentagon secretary.
The senator’s latest message follows a statement from Biden warning the Israel Defense Forces that if it proceeds with an invasion of the southern Gaza city of Rafah, where hundreds of thousands of people are taking refuge, he would stop supplying offensive weapons, such as bombs and artillery shells. .
Biden said on Wednesday that civilians were killed in Gaza “as a consequence of these bombs” and “made it clear” that if Israel enters Rafah, the US will not supply the weapons.
Graham also highlighted on Thursday his efforts to negotiate “an end to the Arab-Israeli conflict” and isolate Iran, while finding “a better and hopeful future for the Palestinians.”
“Mr. President, if you do not change this policy, you will have destroyed the last best opportunity to provide lasting stability in the Middle East for generations,” warned Graham. “Saudi Arabia is watching.”
This story originally appeared on thehill.com read the full story
