Special to WorldTribune.com

WASHINGTON — Congress could block any decision to resume deliveries of U.S. combat platforms to Egypt.

Congressional sources said the House and Senate have not reached a consensus on the resumption of U.S. military aid to Egypt. They said a decision by the administration of President Barack Obama to release major combat platforms for export could spark lawsuits by leading members of Congress.

“A lot of the newer members, they don’t like the instability in Egypt and sending a lot of hardware over there and any money,” House Middle East subcommittee chairwoman Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen said.

The sources said Israel has been lobbying Congress to resume military aid to Egypt. They said Israeli ambassador Ron Dermer was meeting Republicans and reporting unprecedented military cooperation between Cairo and Jerusalem.

“I have my reservations too about the instability of the Egyptian government,” Ms. Ros-Lehtinen said. “But when I hear from our closest ally, who has got a lot at stake for her survival — and they have high standards for who has been a good partner — then I feel better about helping Egypt.”

The sources said Secretary of State John Kerry has urged Congress to approve the resumption of U.S. exports of the AH-64 Apache attack helicopters to Egypt, which overthrew its Muslim Brotherhood government in July 2013. They said Kerry argued that Egypt’s military required the Apaches to maintain its campaign against Al Qaida in the turbulent Sinai Peninsula.

In an interview with London-based Al Monitor, Ms. Ros-Lehtinen warned
that the Republican-controlled House could stop the administration from
resuming U.S. military aid to Egypt without congressional approval. She said
any Apache delivery to Egypt “would probably lead to one of our lawsuits if
we ever get to pass one of these bills that would allow us to take everyone
to court.”

On March 20, State Department Jan Psaki said the administration was
still reviewing the prospect of resuming military aid to Cairo. Ms. Psaki,
unlike Kerry’s assertion to Congress, said she did not envision an imminent
decision.

The Senate, including its Republican leadership, has pushed for the
renewal of U.S. deliveries of major combat platforms to Egypt. In January,
Congress drafted legislation that would require Kerry to certify that Egypt
was working toward “democratic transition” before the resumption of U.S.
military aid. The bill exempts restrictions on U.S. aid for Egyptian
counter-insurgency and border security.

  Israel lobbies Congress to resume U.S. military aid to Egypt, John Kerry, Muslim Brotherhood, Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, Ron Dermer