Biden ally open to restricting arms shipments to 'Israel': Politico

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Politico
15 Jan 2024 20:11
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Chris Coons, a Biden-aligned Democrat senator, seems to rebel against Biden's policy of unconditional military support to"Israel".

Senator Chris Coons speaks during an event at the COP28 U.N. Climate Summit, in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, Sunday, December 10, 2023 (AP)

Top Biden ally in the Senate, Chris Coons, has expressed a willingness to impose restrictions on future military aid to "Israel", subliminally criticizing Biden's unconditional military aid to "Israel" since the onset of the genocidal war against Gaza, Politico reported.

The report adds that this is indicative of the growing pressure from within the Biden camp in the Senate on the administration to penalize the US fascist outpost for their PR catastrophe in Gaza which has taken them to the ICJ.

Senator Coons, often regarded as President Biden's unofficial emissary and closest ally in the Senate, articulated this stance for the first time during an interview with Politico.

His openness to the idea of conditioning arms sales to "Israel" could pose a challenge for the Biden administration, prompting questions about why the White House isn't actively pursuing such measures, the report elucidates.

Senator Coons: a Zionist through and through

While Coons has been critical of the Israeli government's management of the aggression against Gaza, raising questions about the possibility of future aid to the country is unprecedented however.

On the sidelines of the World Economic Forum, he stated, "There are conditions on our aid," alluding to various laws and policies governing arms transfers from the US. This includes a Biden administration-initiated directive of restricting transfers to foreign countries when there is a likelihood of serious violations of human rights or International Humanitarian Law.

Senator Coons is far from being a human-rights triumphant. Earlier he had opposed a resolution put forth by Senator Bernie Sanders, which called for a State Department report on whether U.S.-made weapons were used to violate human rights during the aggression. Instead, Coons hinted at potential support for a resolution with a different configuration and focus.

Emphasizing his commitment to recognizing and defending "Israel's right to defend itself", Senator Coons has shown diminishing patience with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his extremist government.

In December, he described Netanyahu as an "exceptionally difficult partner," and tensions between the US and "Israel" have been on the rise since.

Biden administration wishes for a low-intensity stage 3 in Gaza

"Israel" alleges that it is transitioning towards a low-intensity, more targeted phase of military operations—a shift the Biden administration hopes will fix the genocidal image of "Israel" and its Western sponsors before the international public.

The US had previously urged for this change to take place by the end of last year, and indications suggest it may happen before January concludes.