Sen. Ted Cruz said he will make a trip to Israel amid the country’s heightened tensions with Hamas.
“In the coming days, I will travel to Israel to assess what they need to protect their national security, which is closely tied to America’s national security,” Cruz said on Twitter Saturday.
The Texas senator’s tweet came in response to a post with a photo that appears to show Hamas-fired rockets bound for Israel being intercepted by missiles from Israel’s Iron Dome defense system.
Incredible.
In the coming days, I will travel to Israel to assess what they need to protect their national security, which is closely tied to America’s national security. https://t.co/NwcwMJfOnM
— Ted Cruz (@tedcruz) May 15, 2021
Cruz has recently been critical of President Joe Biden’s response to the crisis in Israel, with the administration not confirming whether or not it will provide more missiles to the Iron Dome system as violent clashes continue.
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“Joe Biden must show decisive presidential leadership, including by replenishing Israel’s Iron Dome missiles,” Cruz said after press secretary Jen Psaki’s comments about the administration’s response to the crisis. “This answer is not just completely unacceptable. It’s disgraceful.”
Under a 10-year agreement brokered in 2016, the United States provides Israel with $3.8 billion in military aid. Though Cruz has called for additional assistance, Israeli security officials say they are so far in no danger of running short on Iron Dome missiles.
Israel has continued to carry out airstrikes on Gaza in recent days, including the controversial bombing of building that media organizations Al Jazeera and the Associated Press used, on Saturday.
Biden has expressed his desire to see tensions wind down in the region, showing support for a ceasefire shortly after he spoke with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. He has also expressed that Israel has a right to defend itself.
But Israel’s leaders have so far shown no indication of stopping the campaign, saying it will continue until the rocket attacks staged by Hamas have stopped.
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“The directive is to continue striking at the terrorist targets,” Netanyahu said. “We will continue to take whatever action necessary in order to restore quiet and security for all the residents of Israel.”
