Graham: Paul's bill would harm Israel

Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) said Sen. Rand Paul’s (R-Ky.) bill to cut aid to Egypt, Libya and Pakistan threatens peace in the Middle East for Israel.

Graham said foreign aid to Egypt in particular is crucial to the safety of Israel because of the Camp David Peace Accord.

“Egypt and Israel have been living under a peace agreement as long as the U.S. aids both,” Graham said on the floor Friday. “So if we cut aid to Egypt they could break the treaty.

“It will unravel a delicate balance in that region. ... I will have no part of it.”

Paul has been filibustering the Senate, which requires that the maximum amount of time be spent on each vote, holding up legislation such as the spending resolution, until he gets a vote on his own bill.

Paul wants a Senate vote on his bill to put conditions on foreign aid to Pakistan, Libya and Egypt until they “start acting like real allies.”

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) had said earlier this week that he would allow a vote on Paul’s bill in exchange for votes on the continuous spending resolution — H.J.Res. 117 — and a sportsman bill. Republicans have agreed to the six-month spending resolution, but not the Sportsman Act.

If an agreement isn’t reached, Paul’s bill likely won’t get a vote and the Senate will work through the weekend to pass just the spending resolution that the House passed last week.

---