{"id":2067100,"date":"2023-10-14T06:59:04","date_gmt":"2023-10-14T10:59:04","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/house-democrat-calling-for-biden-to-freeze-irans-6-billion-has-history-of-backing-gaza-aid\/"},"modified":"2023-10-14T07:02:23","modified_gmt":"2023-10-14T11:02:23","slug":"house-democrat-calling-for-biden-to-freeze-irans-6-billion-has-history-of-backing-gaza-aid","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/house-democrat-calling-for-biden-to-freeze-irans-6-billion-has-history-of-backing-gaza-aid\/","title":{"rendered":"House Democrat urges Biden to halt Iran&#8217;s $6B and has supported Gaza aid in the past."},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">32<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fhouse-democrat-calling-for-biden-to-freeze-irans-6-billion-has-history-of-backing-gaza-aid%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2067100&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><blockquote>\n<h2>Democratic Congressman Calls\u200d on Biden to Freeze Iranian\u200b Assets Following Hamas Massacre<\/h2>\n<p>Rep. Colin Allred (D-Texas) is\u200b among the latest entrants in a growing list of House\u200d members calling on President Joe Biden to re-freeze the $6 billion in Iranian \u200cassets he unfroze just before Hamas terrorists murdered more than 1,200 Israeli men, women, \u200band\u200b children in an Oct. 2 massacre.<\/p>\n<div class=\"my-5\">\n<p>\u201cAs we continue to stand with Israel and mourn those lost in this unjustified and horrific \u200dterrorist attack, the United States must explore \u200dall\u2062 options available to us to hold Hamas and their Iranian backers accountable,&#8221; Mr.\u2063 Allred\u2063 said in a <a href=\"https:\/\/allred.house.gov\/media\/press-releases\/allred-calls-administration-freeze-6-billion-iranian-assets\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">statement<\/a> made public on Oct. 11.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p>&#8220;While Hamas deserves the lion\u2019s share of the blame, Iran cannot go unpunished for its\u2064 role. With this\u200b in mind, I am calling \u200bon the administration to \u2063immediately freeze the $6 billion \u200cin Iranian assets,&#8221; the Texas Democrat \u200bdeclared.<\/p>\n<div class=\"shortcode\">\n<div class=\"border-comp-divider mb-4 mr-4 w-full max-w-[500px] border px-5 py-4 text-[16px] leading-[20px] text-[#262626] md:float-left\" id=\"in_article_related_stories\">\n<h2 class=\"mb-3 font-sans text-[16px] font-semibold uppercase leading-[19px] text-[#2F2F2F]\">Related Stories<\/h2>\n<div class=\"mb-4 flex gap-2\">\n<div class=\"grow\">\n<div class=\"mb-1 line-clamp-2\">\n            <a href=\"http:\/\/www.theepochtimes.com\/china\/israeli-diplomat-stabbed-in-beijing-during-hamas-call-for-day-of-rage-5509777?ea_src=author_manual&#038;ea_med=related_stories\"><\/p>\n<h3>Israeli Diplomat Stabbed\u200b in Beijing During Hamas Call for \u2018Day of Rage\u2019<\/h3>\n<p>            <\/a>\n          <\/div>\n<div class=\"text-comp-caption text-[14px] leading-[18px]\">10\/13\/2023<\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"shrink-0 basis-[120px]\">\n          <a href=\"http:\/\/www.theepochtimes.com\/china\/israeli-diplomat-stabbed-in-beijing-during-hamas-call-for-day-of-rage-5509777?ea_src=author_manual&#038;ea_med=related_stories\"><\/a>\n        <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"mb-4 flex gap-2\">\n<div class=\"grow\">\n<div class=\"mb-1 line-clamp-2\">\n            <a href=\"http:\/\/www.theepochtimes.com\/world\/israel-sharply-criticizes-china-for-failing-to-condemn-hamas-massacre-5509729?ea_src=author_manual&#038;ea_med=related_stories\"><\/p>\n<h3>Israel Sharply Criticizes China for Failing to Condemn Hamas Massacre<\/h3>\n<p>            <\/a>\n          <\/div>\n<div class=\"text-comp-caption text-[14px] leading-[18px]\">10\/13\/2023<\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"shrink-0 basis-[120px]\">\n          <a href=\"http:\/\/www.theepochtimes.com\/world\/israel-sharply-criticizes-china-for-failing-to-condemn-hamas-massacre-5509729?ea_src=author_manual&#038;ea_med=related_stories\"><\/a>\n        <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p>Mr. \u200cAllred&#8217;s\u200d announcement likely would have\u2062 gained little notice but for \u2064two factors.<\/p>\n<div class=\"my-5\">\n<p>First, he <a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/ColinAllredTX\/status\/1653727403536183301?s=20\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">announced<\/a> on May 3\u2062 on X that he is seeking the Democratic Party&#8217;s nomination to\u200b challenge Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) as the latter seeks his third \u200dterm as the Lone Star\u2064 State&#8217;s junior senator.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"my-5\">\n<p>The Dallas \u2063Democrat got \u2063a strong boost shortly thereafter when it was <a href=\"https:\/\/www.texastribune.org\/2023\/07\/14\/ted-cruz-fundraising-senate-campaign\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">reported<\/a> that he raised $6.2 million, compared to $4.4 million for the incumbent.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"shortcode post-related-videos\">\n<div class=\"lazyload-wrapper\">\n<div class=\"lazyload-placeholder\"><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p>Allred is the \u2064heavy favorite \u200cfor the nomination\u200b as so far only two little-known Democrats are \u2063opposing him.<\/p>\n<p>The Cruz\/Allred battle is sure\u2062 to\u2063 be among the most watched elections\u200d in\u2064 2024,\u2062 as the \u2062Republican incumbent barely survived a strong 2018 challenge from Democrat Beto \u2062O&#8217;Rourke by only three points.<\/p>\n<div class=\"my-5\">\n<p>The Progressive Turnout Project&#8217;s Alex Morgan <a href=\"https:\/\/time.com\/6277353\/ted-cruz-collin-allred-texas-senate\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">told<\/a> Time Magazine in\u200b May that he sees Mr. Cruz as the most vulnerable GOP Senate incumbent.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"post-figure\">\n<figure style=\"width:600px\" class=\"alignnone\"><figcaption>Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) speaks on Title \u200b42 immigration policy in Washington on May 3, 2023. (Kevin Dietsch\/Getty Images)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p>But\u2063 the second reason\u200c Mr. Allred&#8217;s\u2062 $6 billion freeze announcement raised eyebrows is his uncomfortable history \u200cof \u200cbacking U.S. aid to the Gaza Strip and the West\u200d Bank in 2021 \u2062that a State Department counter-terrorism financing expert said could benefit Hamas.<\/p>\n<p>The terror group has had total control of the area since Israel&#8217;s withdrawal in 2006,\u2064 and other \u200bMuslim terrorist operations.<\/p>\n<p>Since\u200b then, Hamas has launched thousands of \u200cguided and unguided rockets \u200cinto Israel, \u200ckilling\u200d many, as well as \u200btraining and\u2063 sending terrorists on suicide attacks in public places.<\/p>\n<p>The massive surprise\u200c attack from the Gaza Strip on Oct. 2 killed the most Jews in one day since the Holocaust in Germany before and during World War II.<\/p>\n<p>Soon\u2062 after taking office \u2063in 2021, Mr. Biden gave orders to restart the flow of U.S. \u2063aid to the Gaza Strip\u200c that his predecessor in the Oval Office, \u2064Donald \u2064Trump, had stopped.<\/p>\n<p>With\u200b as much as \u2062$350 million in renewed \u2062assistance at\u2063 stake, Republicans in Congress and elsewhere immediately raised objections. Among them was Sen. Jim Risch (R-Idaho), who exercised Senate privilege by placing a hold\u200c on $50 \u200cmillion of the authorizing legislation.<\/p>\n<div class=\"my-5\">\n<p>Mr. Allred was\u200c one of 145 House Democrats signing a June 2, 2021, <a href=\"https:\/\/raskin.house.gov\/_cache\/files\/4\/6\/46b7d344-a52a-4747-8cdd-49bcda9620ac\/B649B27DDB83548BF673082A8A24EF97.final-raskin-letter-to-risch-re-gaza-aid.pdf?fbclid=IwAR1RY5B2vVjody581cxcdS83nQs30tuk-oB9hFpmk-oihmLZBR9E87FOmmA\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">letter<\/a> to Mr. Risch asking \u200chim to end his hold, saying:\u2063 &#8220;We write with a great sense of urgency to respectfully request that \u200dyou release\u200b your hold on tens of millions of dollars in appropriated humanitarian aid that is \u2063so \u200ddesperately needed to meet the needs of hundreds \u200bof thousands of Palestinian \u2063civilians rebuilding\u2064 their lives in the wake of the fighting between Hamas and Israel earlier\u200d this month.&#8221;<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p>Mr. \u200bRisch&#8217;s concern was that some part of the U.S. aid going to the Palestinian Authority \u2062would end up benefiting Hamas\u2062 by helping finance benefits\u2064 to the families of suicide bombers.<\/p>\n<p>That concern was shared within the Department of State.<\/p>\n<div class=\"post-figure\">\n<figure style=\"width:600px\" class=\"alignnone\"><figcaption>Sen. Jim Risch (R-Idaho) leaves the Senate Chambers during a \u2063series of votes in the U.S. Capitol Building in Washington on May 11, 2022. (Anna Moneymaker\/Getty Images)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"my-5\">\n<p>In a March 2021 internal memorandum obtained recently by \u200dthe non<a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/deion-sanders-shouldnt-shy-away-from-his-faith-and-neither-should-any-other-christian\/\" title=\"Deion Sanders Shouldn\u2019t Shy Away From His Faith, And Neither Should Any Other Christian\">-profit advocacy group<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/protectpublicstrust.org\/in-the-news\/white-house-pushed-pa-aid-despite-fears-it-would-go-to-hamas\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Protect the Public&#8217;s Trust<\/a>, through a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA)\u200d request, a\u200b State Department counter-terrorism official described\u200b Hamas as &#8220;a Foreign Terrorist Organization\u200b (FTO) and Specially Designated Global Terrorist (SDGT).<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;Other terrorist groups are present in the West Bank and Gaza, including Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ), the Palestine Liberation Front (PLF), \u200dand the Popular Front for the\u200d Liberation of Palestine (PFLP).<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;[Due to its overall strength and level of control over Gaza, we assess there is a high risk Hamas could <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/biden-admin-raised-concerns-palestinian-aid-would-boost-hamas-it-went-ahead-with-aid-anyway\/\" title=\"Despite concerns about Hamas, the Biden administration proceeded with Palestinian aid.\">potentially derive indirect<\/a>, unintentional benefit from U.S. assistance to Gaza. There is less, but still some risk, U.S. assistance would benefit other designated groups].&#8221;<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p>The memo&#8217;s author, Andrew Weinschenk, the then-director\u2064 of the Office of Threat Finance Counter-Measures\u2064 in the \u2064State Department, could not be reached by The Epoch Times\u200b for comment.<\/p>\n<div class=\"my-5\">\n<p>The memo was first \u2062 <a href=\"https:\/\/freebeacon.com\/biden-administration\/biden-admin-raised-concerns-palestinian-aid-would-boost-hamas-it-went-ahead-with-aid-anyway\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">reported<\/a> by the Washington \u2063Free Beacon.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p>Mr. Cruz was quick to respond to Mr. Allred&#8217;s call for freezing the \u200b$6 billion.<\/p>\n<div class=\"my-5\">\n<p>In a <a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/tedcruz\/status\/1712548985741914449?s=20\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">post<\/a> on \u200cX the following day, Mr. Cruz said: &#8220;What about the millions \u2063you urged Biden to send to Gaza, even though the \u200dadmin\u200c concluded that there was a\u2062 &#8216;high\u200b risk&#8217; \u2062that \u200cdollars would be used by Hamas \u200cfor terrorism? Should that &#8230; be halted too? \u200d [Hint: yes.]&#8221;<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p>Mr. Allred&#8217;s difficulties\u200b regarding Israel and Islamic \u2062terrorism aren&#8217;t limited to\u200b the present controversy over his position on freezing the $6 billion for Iran.<\/p>\n<div class=\"my-5\">\n<p>The National Republican Congressional \u2062Committee (NRCC) \u2063 <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nrcc.org\/2019\/05\/13\/allred-praises-bigot\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">criticized<\/a> the Texas Democrat in 2019 for praising\u2062 Omar\u2063 Suleiman, \u200ba Texas-based Imam who has compared Israel to \u2063the Ku Klux Klan and \u2064accused the Jewish state \u2064of genocide.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p>Mr. Allred&#8217;s \u2062spokesman did not respond \u200cto The Epoch Times&#8217; request for comment.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p> <\/p>\n<h2> What are the challenges involved in freezing Iranian assets and how should the decision \u200dbe made<\/h2>\n<p><span>  Democratic Congressman \u2062Calls on Biden to Freeze Iranian Assets Following Hamas\u200b Massacre<\/p>\n<p>Rep.\u200c Colin Allred (D-Texas) is among the latest entrants\u2064 in a growing list of House members calling on President\u200c Joe Biden\u2063 to re-freeze the $6 \u200bbillion in Iranian \u2062assets he unfroze\u200b just before Hamas terrorists murdered more than 1,200 Israeli men, women, and children\u2064 in an Oct. 2 massacre.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;As we continue \u200bto stand\u2063 with Israel and mourn those lost \u200bin this unjustified \u200dand <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/american-lawmakers-react-to-explosion-at-kabul-airport-as-horrifying-photos-emerge\/\" title=\"American Lawmakers React To Explosion At Kabul Airport As Horrifying Photos Emerge\">horrific terrorist attack<\/a>, \u2063the United States must explore\u2062 all options available to us \u2062to hold Hamas and their Iranian backers\u200b accountable,&#8221; Mr.\u2063 Allred said\u200c in \u200da statement\u200b made public on Oct. 11.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;While Hamas deserves the lion\u2019s \u200dshare of the \u200cblame, \u200cIran cannot\u2062 go \u2062unpunished for its role. With this in mind, I \u200cam\u200c calling on\u2063 the administration to immediately freeze the $6 billion in \u200bIranian assets,&#8221; the Texas Democrat declared.<\/p>\n<p>Mr. \u2064Allred&#8217;s announcement likely would have gained little \u2064notice \u2063but \u200dfor two factors.<\/p>\n<p>First, he \u200cannounced on May 3 on X that \u200che is seeking the Democratic Party&#8217;s nomination to challenge Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas)\u200d as the latter\u2062 seeks his third term as the Lone Star State&#8217;s junior senator.<\/p>\n<p>The \u200dDallas Democrat \u200bgot\u2064 a\u2063 strong boost shortly thereafter when it was\u200b reported that he raised\u200c $6.2 \u200dmillion, compared to $4.4 million for\u2064 the incumbent.<\/p>\n<p>The \u2062call from Rep. Allred comes at \u2063a \u200bcrucial time when\u2062 tensions between Israel,\u2063 Hamas, and Iran are at an all-time high. The Oct. 2 massacre, carried\u200c out by Hamas terrorists,\u2063 shocked the \u200dinternational community and led to\u2062 widespread condemnation.<\/p>\n<p>By freezing Iranian \u2062assets, the United \u2062States sends a strong\u200d message that \u2064it\u200d will not tolerate support for terrorist activities. Iran has long\u200d been\u200b accused of backing Hamas and providing them with financial and military assistance. Freezing the assets would\u200c not only \u2063penalize \u2063Iran \u200bfor its involvement but also disrupt the \u200dfunding and operations of terrorist organizations \u200blike Hamas.<\/p>\n<p>This move would <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/exclusive-desantis-warns-u-s-must-secure-southern-border-or-face-significant-risk-of-terror-attacks\/\" title=\"DeSantis: Secure Southern Border or Risk Terror Attacks.\">demonstrate unwavering support<\/a> for Israel, one of America&#8217;s strongest \u200dallies in the Middle East. It would also uphold the principles of justice and accountability by\u200c ensuring that those responsible\u2064 for \u200dacts\u2062 of terror\u200b are held liable\u2064 for their actions.<\/p>\n<p>However, freezing Iranian assets is not without its \u2064challenges. It\u200d would require international cooperation and coordination, as well as careful consideration of its \u2064impact \u2062on diplomatic relations and \u2062ongoing \u200bnegotiations with Iran. The decision should be made with\u2063 a<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Rep. Colin Allred (D-Texas) joins a growing group of House members urging President Joe Biden to re-impose the freeze on $6 billion in Iranian assets. This move comes after the Oct. 2 massacre by Hamas terrorists, which claimed the lives of over 1,200 Israeli civilians. Allred emphasizes the importance of standing with Israel.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":173,"featured_media":2067101,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/cndimages.nyc3.digitaloceanspaces.com\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/IMG_2758-scaled-1.jpg","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[543],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2067100","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-the-epoch-times"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/cndimages.nyc3.digitaloceanspaces.com\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/IMG_2758-scaled-1.jpg","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2067100","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/173"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2067100"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2067100\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2067101"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2067100"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2067100"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2067100"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}