Biden notifies Congress of $8b arms sale to Israel
The Biden administration plans to sign an $8 billion arms deal with Israel before President Joe Biden leaves office on Jan. 20.
An Israeli Air Force helicopter near the border with Lebanon, Oct. 17, 2024. Photo by Ayal Margolin/Flash90.
The deal, which needs to be approved by the House of Representatives and Senate, comes after Washington withheld or slow-walked certain weapons supplies to Israel.
Citing two sources with direct knowledge of the matter, Axios reported that the State Department has notified Congress informally about the proposed deal, involving munitions for fighter jets and attack helicopters as well as artillery shells.
The weapons include AIM-120C-8 AMRAAM air-to-air missiles for fighter jets to defend against airborne threats, drones, 155mm artillery shells and Hellfire AGM-114 missiles for attack helicopters, small diameter bombs, JDAM (Joint Direct Attack Munition) tail kits that convert “dumb bombs” into all-weather precision-guided munitions, 500-lb warheads and bomb fuses, according to Axios.
The State Department informed Congress that the deal’s goal is to support “Israel’s long-term security by resupplying stocks of critical munitions and air defense capabilities,” one source said.
“The president has made clear Israel has a right to defend its citizens, consistent with international law and international humanitarian law, and to deter aggression from Iran and its proxy organizations. We will continue to provide the capabilities necessary for Israel’s defense,” a U.S. official was quoted as saying.
Tensions between Washington and Jerusalem over the Jewish state’s handling of the Iron Swords war in the Gaza Strip, with concerns about humanitarian aid entering the Palestinian territory and civilians suffering from collateral damage, have been reported throughout the war that Hamas started on Oct. 7, 2023.
In June, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu broke Jerusalem’s silence over the issue of arms delivery and publicly criticized the U.S. for withholding weapons to Israel.
“When Secretary [of State Antony] Blinken was recently here in Israel, we had a candid conversation. I said I deeply appreciated the support the U.S. has given Israel from the beginning of the war. But I also said something else. I said it’s inconceivable that in the past few months, the administration has been withholding weapons and ammunitions to Israel,” the premier said in a video message.
“Israel, America’s closest ally, fighting for its life, fighting against Iran and our other common enemies,” Netanyahu continued. “Secretary Blinken assured me that the administration is working day and night to remove these bottlenecks. I certainly hope that’s the case. It should be the case.
“During World War II, [Prime Minister Winston] Churchill told the United States, ‘Give us the tools, we’ll do the job.’ And I say, give us the tools and we’ll finish the job a lot faster,” Netanyahu said.
In September, Sens. Tom Cotton (R-Ark.) and Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) wrote to Biden, saying that his administration is withholding additional arms to Israel.
“Despite ongoing discussions between the United States and Israel, your administration has failed to fast-track and approve the sale of Apache attack helicopters,” the lawmakers wrote. “Israel requested these helicopters last December, recognizing the increased need given the war in Gaza. That need has only increased with Hezbollah’s escalation in the north.”
JNS
