The State Department has informed Congress of its plan to approve $8 billion in U.S.-made arms purchases by Israel, marking a continued show of support from the Biden administration to a long-standing ally. The weapons package includes artillery shells, small-diameter bombs, missiles, and GPS guidance systems for bombs, many of which would go into a manufacturing pipeline for future use by Israel. This could be the final set of arms transfers to Israel by President Biden, with the annual aid to Israel increased to about $3 billion after the country began waging war in Gaza.
The Senate Foreign Relations Committee and the House Foreign Affairs Committee are expected to review the proposed arms sales during the informal notification period and can raise questions or doubts that could potentially hold up the transfers. Once the top members of both committees grant approval to the State Department, formal notification will be given to Congress, with a two-thirds vote required in each house to block the sales. The top Democrats on the committees have been more skeptical of arms transfers to Israel, while top Republicans have quickly approved the sales.
Weapons transfers to Israel have been a contentious issue, with some progressive voters and Muslim American voters expressing concerns about Mr. Biden’s support for Israel. The Israeli military, supplied with U.S. weapons, has been involved in a conflict resulting in more than 45,000 Palestinian deaths, including many civilians. Critics have urged Mr. Biden to withhold weapons aid to pressure Israel to curb its military operations, which have caused widespread destruction in Gaza. However, the administration has tried to strike a balance, criticizing Israeli actions at times while affirming Israel’s right to defend itself.
President-elect Donald J. Trump has been urging Israel and Hamas to reach a cease-fire agreement before he takes office, as American officials under the Biden administration work to secure the release of hostages abducted in the attacks. The administration has previously reported holding up shipments of weapons to Israel as a means of discouraging destructive actions, such as the withholding of 2,000-pound bombs in an attempt to prevent the demolition of a city in southern Gaza. There have also been concerns about the potential use of assault rifles against Palestinians in the West Bank.
Despite criticisms and calls for withholding weapons aid to Israel, the Biden administration has continued to support the country, including with the approval of an $8 billion arms purchase. This decision marks a significant show of support to Israel from the U.S. government, as the conflict in Gaza continues to escalate. The future of arms transfers to Israel, as well as efforts to achieve a cease-fire and address the ongoing violence in the region, will be key issues for the Biden administration moving forward.
