BISMARCK – U.S. Senator Kevin Cramer (R-ND), member of the Senate Armed Services Committee (SASC), released the following statement after the Palestinian militant group Hamas launched a deadly land, air, and sea attack against Israel.
“Today is a sad day, and I pray for all the victims of this unprovoked and senseless terrorist attack on Israel. I stand with our ally in the face of this naked aggression by Iran and its pawn, Hamas, and condemn these terrorist acts. The United States must unequivocally support Israel’s right to defend itself from brutal terrorists and those who support their immoral actions.
“While Hamas and Iran own this evil, we must also recognize President Biden’s role and foreign policy these last three years where he coddled our enemies, punished our friends, and left the world second guessing our commitment. Why would Iran show restraint when this administration has ignored Iran’s targeting of American citizens as well as its nuclear growth and continued sponsorship of terror? This administration also accepted attacks in Syria, Iraq, UAE, and Saudi Arabia, ignored Iranian attacks on ships in the Arabian Gulf, ignored their supplying of weapons to Russia used to kill civilians in Ukraine, and rewarded Iran’s kidnapping of American citizens with a $6 billion ransom. Why would Hamas show restraint when the Biden administration has worked with the Taliban, drawn equivalency between the Iranian backed Houthi rebels and our ally Saudi Arabia, and stood by as terrorist actions occur daily against Israel?
“America’s strength and its role in the world matters, no matter what some on either side of the aisle may think. Terror, hate, and aggression do not stop unless confronted. Iran will not stop with the fall of Israel any more than Russia would with the fall of Ukraine. As the strongest nation in the world, we must wisely choose where our leadership is needed, whether through clear foreign policy or direct support.
“When the U.S. leaves a vacuum, the rest of the world fills the void. This is a moment when we need to be strong and clear in support of our friend and ally Israel, while diametrically opposing the terrorism of Iran and Hamas.”