The Biden administration has informed Congress of its plan to sell over $1 billion in new weapons to Israel, including tactical vehicles and ammunition. This decision comes as President Biden has put a hold on a shipment of bombs to Israel to prevent them from being used in a potential invasion of the southern Gaza city of Rafah. The administration is trying to walk a fine line by supporting Israel’s right to defend itself while also trying to prevent civilian casualties and avoid an assault on Rafah. The arms deal has been in the works for months, and the administration waited for a foreign aid package with more assistance for Israel to pass before notifying Congress.
The State Department, in response to questions about the arms deal, reiterated Jake Sullivan’s statement that the administration remains committed to supplying Israel with military assistance to defend against threats in the region. However, the president has made it clear that he would not provide certain offensive weapons if Israel were to launch a large-scale operation. There has been an ongoing effort to broker a cease-fire between Israel and Hamas, with Qatar playing a key role in the negotiations. Despite these efforts, the talks have reached a stalemate.
President Biden initially backed Israel after a deadly attack on October 7, but has since grown increasingly critical of their conduct in the conflict, which has resulted in a high number of casualties in Gaza. He has threatened to withhold certain weapons while still ensuring Israel’s security, including support for their Iron Dome missile defense system and their ability to respond to attacks similar to the one launched by Iran in April. The administration is trying to balance its support for Israel with concerns over civilian casualties and potential escalations in the conflict.
The State Department’s informal notification of the arms transfer to Congress marks the beginning of a process where foreign affairs lawmakers will review and deliberate on the terms of the deal in private before the full Congress considers it. This multistep process is in place to ensure transparency and oversight of arms sales to foreign countries. The administration continues to work on finding a better way to address the situation in Gaza, including the defeat of Hamas, without further escalation of violence. It remains to be seen how Congress will respond to the proposed arms sale to Israel.
Overall, the Biden administration’s decision to move forward with a significant arms sale to Israel while withholding certain weapons reflects the delicate balance they are trying to strike in supporting Israel’s security while also seeking to prevent civilian casualties and avoid further escalations in the conflict. The ongoing efforts to broker a cease-fire and find a way to address the situation in Gaza without more violence are crucial for the administration’s approach to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. It remains to be seen how these diplomatic efforts will play out and whether the proposed arms sale will be approved by Congress.
