In a move that could mark his final support for Israel before leaving office, President Joe Biden has greenlit an $8 billion arms sale to the key Middle Eastern ally, according to reports on April 4th.
Sources cited by Reuters and Axios on Friday revealed that the State Department had notified Congress of the planned weapons sale to Israel.
The package includes munitions for fighter jets, attack helicopters, and artillery shells.
Axios reports that the sale encompasses AIM-120C air-to-air missiles for fighter jets, drones, 155mm shells, AGM-114 Hellfire air-to-ground missiles, small arms ammunition, and Joint Direct Attack Munitions (JDAMs).
A senior U.S. official stated that this sale aims to bolster Israel’s long-term security by replenishing critical military supplies and defense capabilities.
The official stated that the President has consistently upheld Israel’s right to defend its citizens as allowed by both international and domestic law, particularly in response to aggression from Iran and its proxies. They further emphasized the ongoing commitment of the United States to support Israel with the necessary defensive capabilities.
Under the Arms Export Control Act, the administration must secure congressional approval before finalizing foreign arms sales.
The Department of State has not yet commented on the proposed deal.
This arms package will likely be the last major sale to Israel during Biden’s current term.
The Biden administration has consistently approved weapons sales to Israel, a crucial ally in the Middle East, despite opposition from various domestic and international quarters.
Last August, the U.S. government approved a substantial $20 billion arms package for Israel, including fighter jets and other military hardware. This was followed by another $680 million weapons deal in November.
Tensions arose last June when Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu publicly accused the U.S. of delaying weapons and ammunition supplies, a claim. U.S. officials refuted by U.S. this claim, insisting there has been no policy shift.
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