The Biden administration has informally informed Congress about a proposed $8 billion arms deal with Israel, which includes munitions for fighter jets, attack helicopters, and artillery shells, according to a source.
This deal, initially reported by Axios on Friday, still requires approval from the foreign relations committees of both the US House and Senate. The source indicated that some of the arms might be supplied from existing US stockpiles, but most of the equipment will take over a year to be delivered. This is expected to be one of the last deals approved by the Biden administration before it hands over power.
The arms package, pending approval by Congress, includes AIM-120C-8 AMRAAM air-to-air missiles for fighter jets to counter airborne threats, including drones; 155mm artillery shells; Hellfire AGM-114 missiles for attack helicopters; small diameter bombs; JDAM tail kits that convert “dumb bombs” into precision-guided munitions; 500-lb warheads and bomb fuzes, according to the source.
Earlier in the year, the US had delayed a shipment containing 500-lb bombs, though these were eventually delivered. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu expressed dissatisfaction with this delay in November, suggesting that such setbacks would soon be a thing of the past, likely referring to the upcoming administration under Donald Trump.
The source further noted that the State Department informed Congress that the purpose of the deal is “supporting Israel’s long-term security by resupplying stocks of critical munitions and air defense capabilities.”
Biden “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,” the source added.
Despite ongoing calls from anti-Israel protestors for an arms embargo against Israel, US policy has remained largely unchanged.
In August, the US approved a $20 billion sale of fighter jets and other military equipment to Israel, and in November, a $680 million arms sale was confirmed.
Since the conflict began, the US Defense Ministry reported sending over 50,000 tons of armaments and military supplies to Israel.
The Biden administration maintains that this assistance is aimed at helping Israel defend itself against Iran-backed terror groups, such as Hamas in Gaza, Hezbollah in Lebanon, and the Houthis in Yemen.
{Matzav.com}