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President Biden's decision to withhold certain bomb shipments to Israel has sparked criticism from congressional Republicans, who claim that such a move is unprecedented. However, foreign policy expert Michael Sullivan points out that previous presidents, including Republicans, have also withheld aid to Israel over concerns about their actions. This includes Presidents Reagan and Bush, who halted key aid to Israel during their terms. Biden's move has been met with increased scrutiny due to the current conflict and political polarization in Washington. The Biden administration cited concerns over an offensive into Rafah and the threat it posed to Palestinian civilians as the reason for withholding the bomb shipment. Despite this, the administration has stressed its commitment to supporting Israel. Senate Republicans, including Minority Leader Mitch McConnell and Lindsey Graham, have criticized Biden's decision, accusing him of caving to pressure from pro-Palestinian protesters. However, Sullivan emphasizes that Biden's move does not end military aid to Israel and that the nation still has enough firepower to defend itself. The timeline for how long the hold on the shipment will last remains uncertain. Netanyahu has stated that Israeli forces are still committed to a Rafah invasion, but Sullivan predicts that the U.S. weapons halt will influence Israeli operations and that other such pauses are on the table.
