(9 May 2024)
RESTRICTION SUMMARY:
ASSOCIATED PRESS
Washington, DC – 9 May 2024
1. Wide of Senate Republicans walking on stage in Senate Gallery
2. Cutaway of sign on stage
3. SOUNDBITE (English) Sen. Lindsey Graham, (R) South Carolina:
"Withholding weapons makes it very difficult, if not impossible, to get American hostages back and Israeli hostages back because you’re incentivizing bad behavior. Withholding weapons makes Iran stronger, not weaker. Withholding weapons in the most just war since World War II makes Saudi Arabia more doubtful. The consequences of this decision, Mr. President, are going to change the region and the world for all the worse."
3. Tight of signs on stage
4. SOUNDBITE (English) Sen. Tom Cotton, (R) Arkansas:
"Hamas’s leaders and its last four battalions are holed up in Rafah. So Israel has to defeat Hamas in Rafah to win. Hamas wins if it survives in Rafah. And Joe Biden has threatened to withhold weapons from Israel for fighting in Rafah. Therefore, Joe Biden objectively favors a Hamas victory over Israel."
5. Tight of sign on stage
6. SOUNDBITE (English) Sen. James Risch, (R) Idaho:
"This is unprecedented. It’s going to be watched by our enemies. It’s going to be watched by our allies. And it is not helpful to the national security of the United States. More importantly, what the administration claims to be trying to do is to reduce the collateral damages when Israel goes into Rafah. And they are going into Rafah, they’ve said they’re going in with or without anybody else’s help."
7. Wide of Sen. Graham speaking at lectern
8. SOUNDBITE (English) Sen. Joni Ernst, (R) Iowa:
"We can not forget that there were over 40 Americans killed on October 7th in the attack perpetrated by Hamas when they went into Israel. We have eight Americans that are being held by Hamas. Three of whom we know are deceased. Five, God willing, are still alive. The last thing that we need is a president who waffles on his support to Israel. So much for that ironclad support. His words, not mine."
9. Wide of Sen. Graham at lectern
STORYLINE:
Senate Republicans are slamming President Joe Biden for saying he would not supply offensive weapons that Israel could use to launch an all-out assault on Rafah — the last major Hamas stronghold in Gaza.
Biden, in an interview with CNN on Wednesday, said that the U.S. was still committed to Israel’s defense and would supply Iron Dome rocket interceptors and other defensive arms but that if Israel goes into Rafah, “we’re not going to supply the weapons and artillery shells used.”
Biden’s comments and his decision last week to pause the shipment of heavy bombs to Israel are the most striking manifestations of the growing daylight between his administration and Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government. Biden said Wednesday that Israel’s actions around Rafah had “not yet” crossed his red lines, but has repeated that Israel needs to do far more to protect the lives of civilians in Gaza.
A number of senators spoke out about the president on Capitol Hill Thursday, saying Biden needs to change course.
"Withholding weapons makes it very difficult, if not impossible, to get American hostages back and Israeli hostages back because you’re incentivizing bad behavior," said Sen. Lindsey Graham of South Carolina. "Withholding weapons makes Iran stronger, not weaker."
"This is unprecedented," said Idaho GOP Sen. James Risch. "It’s going to be watched by our enemies. It’s going to be watched by our allies. And it is not helpful to the national security of the United States."
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