Republican Senators Oppose Democrats' Effort to Block Israeli Arms Sales

Less than a week after a group of House Democrats introduced a resolution to block U.S. arms sales to Israel (see 2105240062), eight Republican senators said the sales should go through. The two sales, notified to Congress May 5, will help Israel defend itself “against Iran-backed Hamas terrorists,” said Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas, who introduced a May 26 resolution approving the sales along with Marco Rubio of Florida, Marsha Blackburn of Tennessee and others. Republican senators also urged the Biden administration not to provide Iran sanctions relief under the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action while the Israeli-Palestinian conflict continues (see 2105140027).