Biden says he will stop sending bombs and artillery shells to Israel if it launches major invasion of Rafah | CNN Politics

🌈 Abstract

The article discusses President Joe Biden's announcement that he would halt some shipments of American weapons to Israel if Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu orders a major invasion of the city of Rafah in Gaza. Biden acknowledged that American bombs have been used to kill civilians in Gaza and said he would not supply weapons for Israel to wage war in populated areas. The article also covers Biden's efforts to reframe perceptions of the American economy and his concerns about Trump's potential refusal to accept the results of the 2022 election.

🙋 Q&A

[01] President Biden's Announcement on Weapons Shipments to Israel

1. What did President Biden say about halting weapons shipments to Israel?

• Biden said he would halt some shipments of American weapons to Israel if Prime Minister Netanyahu orders a major invasion of the city of Rafah in Gaza.
• Biden acknowledged that American bombs have been used to kill civilians in Gaza.
• Biden said he would not supply weapons for Israel to wage war in populated areas, but would continue to provide defensive weapons like the Iron Dome air defense system.

2. What was the context around Biden's announcement?

• Biden has faced pressure, including from members of his own party, to limit arms shipments to Israel amid the humanitarian crisis in Gaza.
• Biden's announcement represents a turning point in the seven-month conflict between Israel and Hamas.
• Biden warned Netanyahu about the risks of becoming bogged down in Gaza, drawing parallels to the U.S. experiences in Afghanistan and Iraq.

3. How did Israel respond to the pause in weapons shipments?

• Israeli officials privately expressed "deep frustration" to U.S. officials about the pause in shipments and the U.S. media briefings on the decision.

[02] Biden's Efforts to Reframe Perceptions of the U.S. Economy

1. How did Biden seek to reframe perceptions of the U.S. economy?

• Biden touted strong job growth and efforts to combat corporate greed, while questioning surveys showing voters still pessimistic about the country's economic direction.
• Biden pointed to surveys showing many Americans view their own economic situation favorably, even as they look negatively on the nationwide economy.
• Biden said his record on job creation following the COVID-19 pandemic was a clear indication that economic conditions had improved.

2. What did Biden acknowledge about economic concerns?

• Biden acknowledged there were good reasons for Americans to worry, including the cost of goods and housing.
• He said he was working to bring down the cost of rentals and increase the availability of homes.

[03] Biden's Concerns About the 2022 Election

1. What did Biden say about Trump's potential refusal to accept the results of the 2022 election?

• Biden voiced concern that Trump was unlikely to accept the results of the election if he loses, calling this "dangerous."

2. What advice did Obama reportedly give Biden about the 2022 race?

• According to Biden, Obama's advice was simply to "keep doing what I'm doing."