{"id":2398997,"date":"2025-02-04T21:44:01","date_gmt":"2025-02-05T02:44:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/mast-blames-meeks-for-pause-of-1-billion-arms-sale-to-israel-washington-examiner\/"},"modified":"2025-02-04T21:45:11","modified_gmt":"2025-02-05T02:45:11","slug":"mast-blames-meeks-for-pause-of-1-billion-arms-sale-to-israel-washington-examiner","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/mast-blames-meeks-for-pause-of-1-billion-arms-sale-to-israel-washington-examiner\/","title":{"rendered":"Mast blames Meeks for pause of $1 billion arms sale to Israel &#8211; Washington Examiner"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"float:left\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">30<\/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%2Fmast-blames-meeks-for-pause-of-1-billion-arms-sale-to-israel-washington-examiner%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=2398997&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--><p>The article discusses the recent pause\u2063 of a $1 billion \u2062arms \u2064sale to Israel, initiated by House Foreign\u2063 Affairs Committee ranking member Gregory Meeks (D-NY).House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Brian Mast (R-FL) criticized\u2064 Meeks\u2064 for the halt, emphasizing that it contradicts support for Israel,\u2064 especially during a time of\u200d conflict. The paused sale includes meaningful military aid, such as <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/why-isnt-russias-bomber-fleet-attacking-ukraine-in-mass\/\" title=\"Why Isn\u2019t Russia\u2019s Bomber Fleet Attacking Ukraine in Mass?\">precision-guided bombs<\/a> and\u200c armored bulldozers. While\u2064 historically bipartisan, the <a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3YuVZYV\">dynamics surrounding arms sales<\/a> to\u200c Israel have become\u200c more polarized due to the ongoing conflict \u2062between \u200dIsrael\u200c and \u200cHamas, leading to divisions among Democrats.\u2064 The article also highlights President Trump&#8217;s ability to override \u2063Congress on \u200dsuch\u200d matters, \u200dreferencing his previous actions in arms sales during his first term. Additionally, during the \u2062visit \u2062of Israeli prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to\u200c trump, contentious \u2063political discussions arose, including Trump&#8217;s controversial proposal \u2063regarding the Gaza Strip and suggestions for neighboring\u2064 countries to shelter refugees, which were met with criticism.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<p><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><\/p>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-header-search-button-mob dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search\" aria-labelledby=\"td-header-search-button\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search-inner\">\n<form method=\"get\" class=\"tdb-search-form\" action=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/\"><\/form>\n<div class=\"tdb-aj-search\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/#\" role=\"button\" aria-label=\"Search\" class=\"tdb-head-search-btn dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/a><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<h1 class=\"tdb-title-text\">Mast blames Meeks for pause of $1 billion arms sale to Israel<\/h1>\n<div><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-title-line\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div id=\"Brid_1976718\" class=\"tpd-featured-video bridtv\"><\/div>\n<p>A $1 billion arms sale package to <a href=\"http:\/\/washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/israel\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\">Israel<\/a> was paused by a member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee on Tuesday as Israeli Prime Minister <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/benjamin-netanyahu\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\">Benjamin Netanyahu<\/a> became the first foreign leader to visit President <a href=\"http:\/\/washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/donald-trump\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\">Donald Trump<\/a> since he returned to the White House.<\/p>\n<div class=\"article-paywall\">\n<p>House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/brian-mast\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\">Brian Mast<\/a> (R-FL) told the <em>Washington Examiner<\/em> that ranking member Gregory Meeks (D-NY) paused the sale. <\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;It wasn&rsquo;t &lsquo;Congress&rsquo;; it was Meeks,&rdquo; Mast said when asked why Congress paused the sale.<\/p>\n<p>Any of the four top lawmakers on the House Foreign Affairs and Senate Foreign Relations Committees have the power individually to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/bernie-sanders-attempt-to-block-735m-israeli-arms-deal-appears-doomed\/\" title=\"Bernie Sanders&#039; Attempt to Block 5M ...i ... Deal Appears Doomed\">block arms sales<\/a> when over a certain dollar amount.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;Which, to me, is very nonsensical given you&rsquo;re talking about <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/lets-have-the-vote-cotton-throws-down-gauntlet-to-bernie-dem-senators-on-israel\/\" title=\"\u2018Let\u2019s Have The Vote\u2019: Cotton Throws Down Gauntlet To Bernie, Dem Senators On ...\">precision-guided weapons<\/a>, which would be what you would think you would want at a basic level,&rdquo; Mast said. &ldquo;At another very basic level, Israel is our greatest ally in the region, and so to not sign off on an arms sales to our great ally is the equivalent of sanctioning your ally in the middle of war, which is just stupid.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>The <em>Washington Examiner<\/em> reached out to Meeks for comment. The <em>Wall Street Journal <\/em>first reported that <a href=\"https:\/\/www.wsj.com\/world\/middle-east\/u-s-readies-new-1-billion-arms-sale-to-israel-6832aa26\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\">Democratic lawmakers paused the sale<\/a> that included 4,700 1,000-pound bombs, worth more than $700 million, as well as armored bulldozers built by Caterpillar, which are worth more than $300 million.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>Trump can override Congress&rsquo;s hold on the arms sale and set precedent to do so in his last administration. In 2019, he pushed through over $8 billion in arms to Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, and Jordan without congressional approval after the GOP-controlled Senate initially blocked the sale.<\/p>\n<p>While arms deals to Israel have historically been bipartisan, the war between Israel and Hamas fractured the Democratic Party as more progressive lawmakers vocally criticized Netanyahu&rsquo;s wartime actions and called for more humanitarian assistance to Gaza. Republicans overwhelmingly backed Israel since the Hamas attacks in October 2023, with the divide between pro-Palestinian and pro-Israel within the Democratic Party factoring into noncommittal movements during the 2024 primaries and general elections where former Vice President Kamala Harris suffered a sweeping defeat to Trump.<\/p>\n<p>The decision to pause the arms sale comes as Democrats are blasting decisions from the Trump administration just a little more than two weeks into his second presidency. A string of executive orders targeting immigration and diversity, equity, and inclusion, as well as an initial aid freeze, the overhaul of the U.S. Agency for International Development, and the threat of tariffs, are among the actions condemned by Democrats.<\/p>\n<p>With a GOP trifecta, there is very little room for Democrats to push back legislatively. However, on the Senate side, Sens. Brian Schatz (D-HI) and Chris Van Hollen (D-MD) vowed to place a blanket hold on the rest of Trump&rsquo;s nominees to the State Department until the president rescinds his plan to shut down USAID.<\/p>\n<p>During Netanyahu&rsquo;s visit with Trump on Tuesday, the president said the United States would &ldquo;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/white-house\/3310439\/trump-netanyahu-own-gaza-strip-hamas\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"take over the Gaza Strip\">take over the Gaza Strip<\/a> and do a job with it too. We&rsquo;ll own it.&rdquo; Before the meeting, the White House referred to Gaza as a &ldquo;demolition site,&rdquo; predicting it would take more than a decade to reconstruct the enclave.<\/p>\n<p>Trump did not provide details as to how the U.S. would come to own the Hamas-controlled area. <\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><strong><\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<p>This comes after Trump suggested last week that the neighboring countries of Egypt and Jordan should offer shelter to the refugees throughout the rebuilding process. The leaders from the two foreign countries, as well as the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and the Arab League, condemned the proposal as forced &ldquo;evictions.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>Netanyahu himself gave his blessing to Trump&rsquo;s announcement, claiming that it would ensure &ldquo;that Gaza never poses a threat to Israel.&rdquo; The Israeli prime minister also took a jab at former President Joe Biden earlier in the visit, stating Trump deserves credit for brokering the January ceasefire deal &mdash; a point of contention that has drawn partisan opposition over whether Biden or Trump deserves the accolade.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p> <script data-cfasync=\"false\" src=\"http:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/cdn-cgi\/scripts\/5c5dd728\/cloudflare-static\/email-decode.min.js\"><\/script><script>!function(){var g=window;g.googletag=g.googletag||{},g.googletag.cmd=g.googletag.cmd||[],g.googletag.cmd.push(function(){g.googletag.pubads().setTargeting(\"has-featured-video\",\"true\")})}();<\/script><script>var _bp=_bp||[];_bp.push({\"div\":\"Brid_1976718\",\"obj\":{\"id\":\"27789\",\"width\":\"1280\",\"height\":\"720\",\"stickyDirection\":\"below\",\"video\":\"1976718\"}});<\/script><script defer src=\"https:\/\/services.brid.tv\/player\/build\/brid.min.js\"><\/script><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Mast accuses Meeks of halting $1 billion arms sale to Israel<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2648,"featured_media":2398998,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/AP24268598651418-1.webp","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[],"tags":[49835,49266,49834],"class_list":["post-2398997","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","tag-arms-sale","tag-mast","tag-meeks"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/AP24268598651418-1.webp","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2398997","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\/2648"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2398997"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2398997\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2399001,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2398997\/revisions\/2399001"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2398998"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2398997"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2398997"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2398997"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}