00:00Thank you, Senator Ernst, for organizing this important press conference.
00:04Today, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will come before Congress to ask us for help.
00:12America has a responsibility.
00:14We have an obligation to keep our promises, and we have to show that never again actually
00:21means never again.
00:24Failure to do so will mean that we will let down our tremendous ally, and we will look
00:30weak once again on the world stage.
00:34We must stand strongly with Israel and show her the support, not just in normal times
00:38but in trying times when she needs us the most.
00:41I think it's a shame that Vice President Harris won't be here, literally won't be here, standing
00:47with Israel today.
00:49She isn't presiding over or attending Prime Minister Netanyahu's address.
00:54And look, to be honest, she doesn't have many jobs as the Vice President.
00:59She was put in charge of our border.
01:01We know she failed at that responsibility.
01:04She was supposed to fill in for the President during ceremonial times.
01:08She failed to greet Prime Minister Netanyahu when he landed in the United States.
01:14And she's expected to preside over joint sessions in which foreign leaders of Congress are present.
01:20Once again, she's failing at that too.
01:24Time and time again, she has chosen not to do her job.
01:28But now she's asking the American people for a promotion.
01:32Let's be clear, the Vice President could be here today if she wanted to.
01:37She has chosen not to fulfill her duty.
01:39Instead, she's at a conference.
01:42Look, I am all for her attending a conference.
01:46The conference lasts five days.
01:49Does anybody in this room think that if she had told the people in the conference that
01:53she, the Vice President of the United States, would like to address them, but just needed
01:56to adjust her time, that they wouldn't have allowed her to do that?
02:01They absolutely would.
02:02She's choosing not to be here today.
02:07She could have fulfilled her obligation.
02:09Once again, the Biden-Harris administration is sending exactly the wrong message, a message
02:15that is sure to further embolden our adversaries.
02:19It's past time to reestablish credibility in the American deterrence and for America
02:24to provide Israel with everything she needs to permanently end the threat of Hamas.
02:30Strength is the path to sustainable peace, not weakness or appeasement.
02:37Make no mistake, Israel has more than a right to defend herself.
02:43She has an obligation to do so.
02:48America can and must help Israel fulfill that mission, help bring every single hostage home,
02:55and help bring about sustainable peace through strength.
03:00It is time we use every tool in our toolbox, including those that will help dry up Iran
03:06financially.
03:07We've done it before under the Trump administration, and we can do it again.
03:12Today and every day, Senate Republicans proudly stand with Israel.
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