Lafayette Reporter

Sen. John Kennedy (R-La.) has collaborated with Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) and other colleagues to introduce a resolution condemning the Biden administration's decision to halt the shipment of American-made ammunition and weapons to Israel. Kennedy expressed his concern over this move, stating, “Israel is fighting to protect its people from Iran and its proxies, but the Biden administration seems to think now is a good time to get weak in the knees. America should stand strong in support of Israel and get them the military supplies they need.”

The resolution details several key points:

- It acknowledges that Hamas killed more than 1,200 innocent individuals and took over 240 innocent civilians hostage during an unprovoked attack on Israel on Oct. 7, 2023.

- It notes that the U.S. is the largest supplier of military aid that Israel uses for self-defense against Iran and its proxies.

- It highlights that 99% of projectiles launched by Iran were intercepted by Israel and its allies using supplies partially provided by the U.S.

- It cites public claims made by the Biden administration such as “[c]onditioning aid has not been our policy” and “our commitment to Israel’s security . . . is ironclad.”

- It recognizes actions taken by the Biden administration in May 2024 to stop shipments of weapons and ammunition to the Israeli military, which could potentially embolden Hamas and other Iranian proxies.

Furthermore, it condemns any decision made by the Biden administration to halt shipments of ammunition and weapons to Israel while demanding that Israeli military aid requests continue being fulfilled. The resolution also reaffirms the importance of U.S.-Israel partnership and upholds America's commitment to Israel's security.

In December 2023, Kennedy urged the Biden administration to continue supporting Israel until it succeeds in destroying Hamas. In February 2024, he backed the End Iranian Terrorism Act requiring President Biden to enforce sanctions on Iranian oil. In May 2024, Kennedy and other Republican members of the Senate Judiciary Committee authored a letter to Sen. Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) calling for a Judiciary Committee hearing on violations of Jewish students’ rights and growing domestic support for terrorist organizations.

The resolution was cosponsored by several senators, including Sens. Tom Cotton (R-Ark.), Susan Collins (R-Maine), Ted Cruz (R-Texas), Joni Ernst (R-Iowa), Roger Marshall (R-Kan.), John Barrasso (R-Wyo.), Thom Tillis (R-N.C.), Kevin Cramer (R-N.D.), Marco Rubio (R-Fla.), Bill Hagerty (R-Tenn.), John Cornyn (R-Texas), Mike Crapo (R-Idaho), Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), Cynthia Lummis (R-Wyo.), Josh Hawley (R-Mo.), Steve Daines (R-Mont.), Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.), Dan Sullivan (R-Alaska), Deb Fischer (R-Neb.), Ted Budd (R-N.C.), Markwayne Mullin (R-Okla.), Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.), Mitt Romney(R-Utah), Rick Scott(R-Fla.) among others.

The full resolution is available here.