Republicans raise doubts about ‘ironclad’ commitment following halt in arms shipment

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell and House Speaker Mike Johnson have raised concerns about the delay in arms shipment to Israel following the announcement of a review of Israel’s wartime conduct. In a letter penned to President Biden, the leaders questioned the ongoing review process and the lack of information provided by the Department of State and the Pentagon.

The State Department was expected to release its review of Israel’s assurances to Congress on Wednesday but has delayed the report, stating it will be out “in the coming days.” McConnell and Johnson emphasized the importance of transparency in these reviews, stating that the American public deserves to understand the nature, timing, and scope of the assessments.

The Republican leaders called for the White House to respond by the end of the week on various aspects of the review, including the timing of the report, potential delays in other shipments, and the responsible office conducting the review. They highlighted the urgent priority of security assistance to Israel, especially in the face of threats from Iran and Iranian-backed terrorists.

McConnell expressed his concern during a Senate Republican leadership news conference, stating that delaying weapons shipments to Israel could undermine trust between the United States and its allies. The leaders urged the Biden administration to expedite the production and delivery of critical weapons and munitions to support the defense of the United States and its allies.