We “don’t know what he’s talking about.” – The attacker

(JTA) — WASHINGTON — White House officials denied withholding weapons from Israel after Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu released a video statement criticizing the Biden administration for an “inconceivable” delay in delivering weapons.

The exchange followed reports that the administration pressured congressional Democrats to approve a major arms sale.

Tuesday's statements are the latest development in a long-running debate over U.S. arms deliveries to Israel. Some Democrats are urging Biden to halt deliveries due to the rising death toll in Gaza. Israel says it needs weapons to defeat Hamas and end the war.

“When Secretary of State Blinken was recently here in Israel, we had a frank conversation,” Netanyahu said Tuesday in a video he posted on multiple platforms, referring to a meeting he had on the 10 June with Secretary of State Antony Blinken.

“I said I deeply appreciate the support the United States has given Israel since the start of the war,” he said. “But I also said something else. I said it was inconceivable that in recent months the administration had withheld weapons and ammunition from Israel. Israel, America's closest ally, is fighting for its life, fighting against Iran and our other common enemies. »

Netanyahu said Blinken told him that “the administration is working day and night to eliminate these bottlenecks. I certainly hope that is the case. This should be the case. Netanyahu also compared himself to Winston Churchill – a longtime role model of his – comparing US aid to Israel to US arms deliveries to Britain during World War II.

“During World War II, Churchill told the United States: 'Give us the tools, we will get the job done,'” Netanyahu said. “And I say, give us the tools and we’ll finish the job a lot faster.”

U.S. officials responded that they did not know what Netanyahu was referring to. While the administration has delayed shipments of large bombs due to concerns over Israel's invasion of Rafah in Gaza, it has insisted that all other arms shipments continue at a steady pace and that she ensured that Israel had the firepower needed to fight Hamas.

“We generally don't know what he's talking about, but we just don't know,” White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre told reporters at the daily briefing. “There is no other pause, none, no other pause or hold in place” other than hanging the 2,000-pound bombs.

Blinken echoed that message during a news conference with NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg. He declined to comment on his conversation with Netanyahu, and the State Department did not respond to a request for comment from the Jewish Telegraphic Agency.

“As for the 2,000-pound bombs, because of our concerns about their use in a densely populated area like Rafah, that remains under study,” Blinken said. “But everything else moves as it normally would.”

He added: “The president has been very clear from day one: he will do everything in his power to ensure that Israel has what it needs to effectively defend itself against these threats. »

On Monday, the Washington Post reported that key Democrats had approved the transfer of F-15 fighter jets to Israel, following the administration's urging. New York Rep. Gregory Meeks, ranking member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, had delayed approval because of concerns about Israel's war conduct.

“I have been in close contact with the White House and the National Security Council regarding this and other arms-for-Israel cases and have repeatedly urged the administration to continue pushing Israel to deliver meaningful and concrete improvements on all fronts in humanitarian and mitigation efforts. civilian casualties,” Meeks said in an email to JTA.

“I continue to support the administration's pause on certain munitions transfers due to concerns about continued civilian casualties in Gaza,” he said. “The aircraft in question will not be delivered for years and I remain supportive of Israel's right to defend itself against real threats posed by Iran and Hezbollah.”

A spokesperson for Sen. Ben Cardin, a Maryland Jew who is chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee and a longtime supporter of Israel, told JTA that “any issues or concerns Chairman Cardin has been addressed resolved in our ongoing consultations with the administration, and therefore considered it appropriate to allow this matter to move forward.