Washington approves an emergency missile deal for Israel without Congressional review
The Pentagon confirms that Blinken identified an emergency situation necessitating the immediate sale of this ammunition to Israel, suspending the Congressional review condition for the deal
U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken acknowledged the sale of 155mm artillery shells and related equipment to Israel without Congressional review, as confirmed by the U.S. Department of Defense (Pentagon) on Friday, indicating the ongoing unprecedented military support provided by President Joe Biden‘s administration to the Israeli army, despite discussions of policy disagreements related to war or sector management after the cessation of hostilities.
The Pentagon added that Blinken specified an emergency condition requiring the immediate sale of this ammunition to Israel, suspending the Congressional review condition for the deal. The sale comes at a time when Israel is intensifying its attack on the Gaza Strip. The United States is urging Israel to minimize civilian casualties in Gaza as much as possible and calling for a reduction in the pace of war in the coming weeks.
The Pentagon stated that Israel requested the addition of valves and detonation capsules to a previous request for 155mm shells, bringing the total value of the deal to $147.5 million.
This is the second time this month that the Biden administration has bypassed Congressional review to sell weapons to Israel. On December 9th, the administration used emergency powers to allow the sale of around 14,000 tank shells to Israel.
U.S. military aid to Israel has reached its highest level since the war on Gaza began on October 7th of last year. In 2016, the U.S. signed a memorandum of understanding with Israel to regulate assistance to the Hebrew state for 10 years, committing the U.S. administration to provide $3.3 billion annually in military funding to Tel Aviv.
The agreement also requires the United States to spend $500 million annually on joint missile defense programs from fiscal year 2019 to 2028, as well as provide supplementary assistance in emergencies such as wars and armed conflicts. This week, the United States rejected Israel’s request for additional “Apache” fighter jets amid the ongoing war in Gaza. However, observers believe that this rejection will not affect Israeli military capabilities.
Democratic lawmakers have called for increased scrutiny of U.S. aid to Israel in its war on Gaza, criticizing the insufficient data on this issue and emphasizing the need for Congressional oversight of support for the Hebrew state to prevent its use against civilians in the conflict. In addition to military support, Washington provides political support to Israel by using its veto power against any Security Council resolution calling for a ceasefire.
The Biden administration also offers significant financial support, deciding to grant the Hebrew state $14 billion to fund the war.
