The Dallas Morning News:
Sen. Ted Cruz joined a group of Senate Republicans on Tuesday in calling for additional military assistance to Israel on top of an aid package the Obama administration laid out last week.
A bill introduced by Cruz and six other Republicans would provide $1.5 billion to Israel for missile defense and direct military assistance, and it would extend the Iran Sanctions Act as a backstop in case Iran cheats on the nuclear deal.
Cruz promoted the legislation in a news conference with Sens. John McCain, R-Ariz.; Kelly Ayotte, R-N.H.; and Lindsey Graham, R-S.C. The joint effort with McCain offered a rare partnership between two Senate colleagues who have been sharply critical of each other.
“These are perilous times for the nation of Israel and they are perilous times for America,” Cruz said. “Support for Israel is not a burden, it is an investment in our mutual national defense against the common enemy that is radical Islamic terrorism.”
Last week, the Obama administration finalized a $38 billion package of military aid for Israel over the next 10 years, the largest such pledge in U.S. history. Cruz described that memorandum of understanding as a “concrete demonstration” of America’s commitment to Israel and an “important baseline.”
But Cruz said he is concerned that aspects of the agreement would box in Congress and prevent it from taking its own measures on Israeli security.
“Congress must retain, and under the Constitution will retain, the discretion to increase assistance as circumstances warrant,” he said.
Under the deal, the Israeli government agreed to return any additional funds Congress offers. Cruz described Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu as a “Churchillian” leader, but suggested that Obama had forced him into agreeing to the measure.
“It is not complicated that if you’re the prime minister of Israel, you have little choice but to cede to the demands of the president of the United States,” Cruz said, detailing what he views as a litany of affronts the Obama administration has pushed on Israel. “But Congress, we have no choice but to protect our constitutional prerogatives and responsibilities.”
Graham, who has been a forceful critic of Cruz, praised the Texas Republican for standing with him on the issue.
“I am ready, Ted is ready, and there’s no stronger voice for constitutional systems than Ted Cruz,” Graham said.
