President Biden’s decision to halt offensive weapons shipments to Israel has ignited backlash from the House GOP, while progressive Democrats have reveled in the move. Republican lawmakers have accused Biden of yielding to pressure from widespread anti-Israel demonstrations across the U.S., particularly on college campuses.
The backlash includes accusations that Biden is prioritizing progressive voters in Michigan over the security of the U.S. and Israel. Rep. Mike Waltz (R-Fla.) suggested that the president’s decision was motivated by threats to his re-election bid from the progressive left.
Meanwhile, progressive Democrats have lauded student activists for their campus protests and encouraged them to continue despite escalating tensions. Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-Minn.) credited the protests for Biden’s harsher stance on Israel.
The college protests have drawn bipartisan criticism, but progressives have maintained strong support for the students. Omar’s comments referring to some Jewish students as “pro-genocide” have sparked a GOP-led censure resolution.
The fallout from Biden’s announcement has also included concerns from House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Michael McCaul (R-Texas) and GOP Conference Chair Elise Stefanik (R-N.Y.), who believe the move could undermine American reliability around the world.
