Biden says US will cut off offensive weapons to Israel ‘if they go into Rafah’

Israel’s military plans have been the source of tension with the U.S.

“We are deeply grateful for President Biden’s unprecedented support for Israel and its security,” said Mark Mellman, president of the advocacy group Democratic Majority for Israel. “At the same time we are deeply concerned about the Administration’s decision to withhold weapons now and potentially impose further restrictions. A strong U.S.-Israel alliance like the one President Biden has created, plays a central role in preventing more war and making the path to eventual peace possible. Calling the strength of that alliance into question is dangerous.”

While Biden said the U.S. would stop sending offensive weapons to Israel were it to launch an invasion, it would continue to provide protective weapons, including for its Iron Dome air defense system, which helped repel recent rocket and drone attacks from Iran and its allies.

“We’re going to continue to make sure Israel is secure in terms of Iron Dome and their ability to respond to attacks that came out of the Middle East recently,” Biden said. “But it’s, it’s just wrong. We’re not going to — we’re not going to supply the weapons and artillery shells.”

Israel has conducted limited operations in Rafah, but Biden said it had not yet crossed a red line of entering heavily populated zones — even though it has led to a surge of tensions in the area.

“They haven’t gone into the population centers. What they did is right on the border. And it’s causing problems with, right now, in terms of — with Egypt, which I’ve worked very hard to make sure we have a relationship and help,” Biden said. “I’ve made it clear to Bibi and the war cabinet: They’re not going to get our support, if in fact they go on these population centers.”

The president also expressed sympathy with the pro-Palestinian protesters who shadow many of his events, sometimes shouting “Genocide Joe.”

“Absolutely, I hear you,” Biden said to those angry about the Gaza humanitarian crisis.

Biden spoke to CNN while in Wisconsin, a key battleground state where, earlier in the day, he cast a major new investment as emblematic of the nation’s economic comeback — while mocking the failures there of his predecessor, Donald Trump.

“He’s never succeeded in creating jobs, and I’ve never failed,” Biden said in the interview, adding later: “When has he even done anything he said? I’m not being facetious. Think about it.”

Biden also dismissed polls that show him slightly trailing his Republican rival and expressed optimism about November.

“I think I’m feeling good about the trajectory of the campaign,” he said. “And you know as well I do, most people don’t really focus and make up their minds until the fall. There’s a lot going on, and we’ll see what happens.”

And he warned that Trump will, once again, not accept defeat if he loses.

“I promise you he won’t,” Biden said, “which is dangerous.”