US lawmakers propose bill to give Israel B-2 bombers, bunker busters against future Iran threat

( JPost )

Legislators have proposed a bill authorizing US President Donald Trump to send B-2 bomber planes and bunker buster bombs to Israel if Iran is still found to be developing a nuclear weapon, Fox News reported on Wednesday.

The measure was proposed by Reps. Josh Gottheimer, (D- New Jersey), and Mike Lawler (R- New York) in an effort to allow Trump to "take actions to ensure Israel is prepared for all contingencies if Iran seeks to develop a nuclear weapon."

"Iran, the leading state sponsor of terror, and one of America’s top enemies, can never have a nuclear weapon. That’s why I strongly supported our military actions earlier this month. Iran has killed scores of Americans, including our service members, and repeatedly attacked our key democratic ally, Israel. Israel must be able to defend itself against Iran, and ensure that Iran cannot rebuild its nuclear capabilities," Gottheimer said in a statement, as reported by Fox.

"This bill gives the president the authority to equip Israel with the tools and training they need to deter Tehran and make the world a safer place," added Lawler.

The bill did note that in the case of such an event, Trump would have to justify to Congress that he felt that it was vital to America's national security.

The bill also noted that Trump would have to procure "certification that Israel has no other means of destroying Iran's underground nuclear infrastructure."

Trump secretly ordered strikes on Iran days before the US attacked the Islamic Republic's nuclear facilities with B-2 stealth bombers and bunker buster bombs. He later went on to declare that Iran's nuclear facilities were "obliterated" by the strikes.

After Operation Midnight Hammer, many members of Congress had divided responses to Trump's orders to strike Iran.

“Israel’s strikes against Iran represent an escalation that is deeply concerning and will inevitably invite counterattacks. This risks not only US negotiations with Iran, but the safety of American service members, diplomats, their families, and ex-pats around the region," said Sen. Jeanne Shaheen, the ranking member on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.

Hardline Republican Marjorie Taylor Greene of Georgia noted in a post that “the American people aren’t interested in foreign wars," and later went on to say that she was praying for peace.

In contrast, those who defended the attack stated that they were in America's best interest.

“I stand firmly behind Israel’s right to defend itself. Iran has long funded terror groups who killed Americans and has moved to develop nuclear weapons to aim at Israel,” Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schulz of Florida tweeted. ”If Israel’s strikes set back Iran’s nuclear program, we’ll all be safer.”

Speaker of the House Mike Johnson also defended the attack, saying that: “Israel IS right — and has a right — to defend itself!”