Boise City Wire

U.S. Senator Jim Risch (R-Idaho), the ranking member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, has issued a statement concerning the Biden Administration's National Security Memorandum 20 (NSM-20) report on Israel.

Senator Risch expressed his concern that the administration is attempting to appease voters on the far left at the expense of Israel, a close ally currently engaged in conflict with Hamas terrorists. He stated, "In keeping with nearly four years of failed foreign policy, the Biden Administration is trying to have it both ways. Today, the administration has given Israel a politically damaging assessment while publicly announcing it is withholding a select set of precision weapons."

He further noted that NSM-20 could have broader implications beyond its immediate impact on Israel. "NSM-20 is aimed squarely at Israel in the near-term," he said, "but the additional highly-politicized reporting requirements will eventually be aimed at other American allies and partners across the globe, further impeding the delivery of security assistance and undermining our ability to deter China and Russia.”

The background to this situation involves NSM-20, issued by the Biden Administration on February 8. This memorandum has been criticized for undermining Israeli operations against Hamas in Gaza by providing an opportunity for critics to falsely claim that Israel is committing war crimes.

NSM-20 also threatens to cut off aid unless Israel meets arbitrary deadlines for providing “assurances” regarding international humanitarian law as well as vague facilitation of humanitarian assistance.

On April 30, Senator Risch and House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Michael McCaul sent a letter to the Biden Administration urging for the repeal of NSM-20.