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When it comes to foreign policy, US Senator Lindsey Graham of South Carolina has always been a vocal proponent of strong US-Israel ties. Therefore, it was not a surprise when he recently criticized President Joe Biden over his perceived threat to pull military aid for Israel.
Graham, a Republican, stated emphatically that any indication of withdrawing financial support or military aid to Israel would be tantamount to rewarding the tactics of Hamas to put civilians at risk. He has: always seen America’s relationship with Israel as a strategic partnership that bolsters US interests in the Middle East.
Hamas, a militant group that controls the Gaza Strip, has been flagged by the international community for its actions that put civilians at risk. The group’s modus operandi often gravitates towards tactics that rely on civilian infrastructure and population for protection, making it difficult for military responses to be precise without incurring civilian casualties.
Graham’s critical view of the Biden administration’s stance comes from his understanding of the dynamics of Israeli-Palestinian relations and conflict. He subscribes to the perspective that reducing or cutting off Israel’s military aid could be interpreted by Hamas, and possibly other extremist groups, as a victory. This implication and the fear thereof are what ensure Graham’s vociferous opposition to the move.
The senator affirmed that any perceived success by Hamas via the reduction of Israeli military aid could embolden the group and similar factions to continue their tactics of embedding weapon caches and important military structures within civilian areas—of using people as a shield — understanding that taking them out could lead to public uproar against Israel.
From Graham’s perspective, withholding military aid from Israel would not contribute to encouraging compromise and promoting peace. On the contrary, he argued, such actions could empower Hamas and similar groups, while portraying the United States as unsteady in its support for Israel, a long-standing ally.
One of the factors driving Graham’s viewpoint is the historical context of American-Israeli relations. The U.S. has consistently supported Israel militarily and diplomatically since its creation in 1948. The partnership extends beyond mere shared democratic values to involve overlapping security interests in a volatile part of the world. A wavering commitment could disrupt stability and potentially create room for more militant and extremist elements to establish a stronger presence.
Graham was not only concerned with the possible propagation of fundamentalist ideologies, but also how Hamas could become a model for other extremist groups. If withholding military aid is seen as an effective pressure tactic by the US, other militants might perceive it as yielding results, encouraging them to employ equally destabilizing tactics and further escalate the conflict.
In summary, Senator Graham’s concerns about President Biden’s potential threat to pull military aid from Israel are not baseless. They stem from a conviction that such a move could inadvertently perpetuate the strategy of Hamas and other militant groups – using civilian populations as shields, thus increasing the risk to innocent lives. The Senator argues that undermining Israel’s capacity to defend itself could inadvertently empower more intransigent actors, posing long-term threats to peace in the region.
