Graham proposes more aid for Israel and renewal of Iran sanctions | McClatchy Washington Bureau

In the wake of a recently signed agreement providing aid to Israel, Sen. Lindsey Graham thinks two more things need to be done: The U.S. should give the country additional funds, and sanctions should be reimposed on Iran.

The South Carolinian was joined by fellow Republican Sens. Ted Cruz of Texas, John McCain of Arizona and Kelly Ayotte of New Hampshire at a news conference Tuesday to advocate for introducing legislation that would give Israel another $1.5 billion in direct military assistance and renew restrictions on Iran’s nuclear activity.

“We want to send another message to the Iranians,” Graham said. “The first message is, if you cheat on the Iranian nuclear deal, sanctions will be reimposed and they will be facing you . . . (and) the more provocative you are toward Israel and our allies in the region, the more we’re going to help them.”

But Republican lawmakers also want to send a message to the Obama administration: that despite an agreement last Wednesday giving the Israeli military $38 billion – the most it has ever vowed to give another country – over 10 years, that so-called memorandum of understanding and the executive branch can’t keep Congress from giving Israel more money if it wants to do so.

As part of the agreement, Israel won’t ask Congress for additional appropriations in 2017 and 2018, and would return additional money given by Congress, according to reporting in The Washington Post.

“We all believe that the right way to do business is for the Congress to appropriate, the president to agree or disagree, sign the bill or veto it, and not allow this MOU to be interpreted in the fashion (the administration is) trying to interpret it,” Graham said.

Cruz said restricting Congress’ responsibilities was unconstitutional, adding that passing the bill benefits both the U.S. and Israel, as the security of both countries is at stake.

“These are perilous times for the nation of Israel, and these are perilous times for America,” Cruz said. “Why wouldn’t we do everything we can to keep America safe?”

The additional funding in the proposed bill makes up just 1 percent of the aid the U.S. pledged to give the Iranian regime after the nuclear deal was passed in July 2015. Since then, the senators said, Iran has violated its agreement with the United Nations by launching at least four ballistic missiles. The Congressional Research Service, however, said in a May 31 report that it is unclear whether Iran has violated the agreement.

Iran has also continued supporting and providing weapons to militant groups like Hamas and Hezbollah, which pose a growing threat to “our best friend in the region,” Graham said.

“It’s clear that . . . this administration is doing nothing about Iran’s ballistic missile program that threatens both Israel and our country, and it is time for us to make sure that the Congress serves its role in giving this increase (in funding) to Israel,” Ayotte said.

Graham acknowledged that while he supports the proposal, some members of Congress might not agree, but he said legislators should still have the opportunity to choose whether to allocate these funds.

“To our friends in Israel: If you don’t need the money, tell me so, and I’ll withdraw this bill,” Graham said. “If you do need the money, take it, because it’s good for you and for us. (But) what (the administration’s) trying to do should bother every member of Congress, regardless of support.”