Rep. Elise Stefanik speaks during a news conference outside the U.S. Capitol on May 16, 2024. (Allison Robbert/Bloomberg via Getty Images)
Stefanik said the main focus of her speech "was that the American people stand strongly with Israel, as do House Republicans," referencing how on Thursday the House passed legislation that rebuked Biden for pausing a shipment of bombs to Israel, seeking to force the weapons transfer.
Debate over the bill showed Washington's deeply fractured outlook on the Israel-Hamas war. The White House and Democratic leadership scrambled to rally support from a House caucus that ranges from moderates frustrated that the president would allow any daylight between the U.S. and Israel to progressives outraged that he is still sending any weapons at all. The bill passed comfortably 224-187 as 16 Democrats joined with most Republicans to vote in favor. Three Republicans voted against it.
"You’ve had equivocation after equivocation from Democrats, led by Joe Biden, or whether it’s Chuck Schumer calling for a new leader replacing Prime Minister Netanyahu, that is not the place – that is not the type of leadership we need to be seeing from the highest levels of the United States of America," Stefanik said. "And that’s one of the focuses that I had today in my speech at the Knesset, that House Republicans stand strongly with Israel at their time of existential need."
NETANYAHU RIVAL THREATENS TO QUIT WAR CABINET OVER GAZA STRATEGY
House Republican leaders on the Capitol steps call on the Senate to consider the Israel Security Assistance Support Act on May 16, 2024. (Allison Bailey/Middle East Images/AFP via Getty Images)
CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP
Amid concern that tens of thousands of people have been injured and killed in Gaza, Bream noted that Amnesty International sounded the alarm that U.S. weapons are being used in violation of international and U.S. laws. Stefanik, in response, said Hamas uses civilians as shields, while "Israel has great respect when it comes to human rights" and "that’s why the United States stands fully with Israel, and that’s why they need to be a voice of truth, as those antisemitic propaganda are being shared around the world and being shared by perpetrators who support this terrorism."
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Danielle Wallace is a reporter for Fox News Digital covering politics, crime, police and more. Story tips can be sent to danielle.wallace@fox.com and on Twitter: @danimwallace.
Get the latest updates from the 2024 campaign trail, exclusive interviews and more Fox News politics content.
Subscribed
You've successfully subscribed to this newsletter!
https://www.foxnews.com/politics/stefanik-defends-speech-israels-knesset-torching-biden-democrats-equivocation-equivocation