Joe Biden administration has started the initial stages of a new USD 1 billion arms deal for Israel, confirmed by two congressional sources as reported by CNN on Wednesday. Discussions have begun between the State Department and the House Foreign Affairs and Senate Foreign Relations committees following an informal notification on Tuesday. While no specific timeline has been set for official notification to Congress, the process is underway, leading to eventual approval.
This development comes amidst a pause in the shipment of 2,000-pound and 500-pound bombs to Israel due to concerns about their use in densely populated areas like Rafah. The proposed deal, valued at USD 1 billion, could include USD 700 million in tank ammunition, USD 500 million in tactical vehicles, and USD 60 million in mortar rounds, as per one congressional source. The Wall Street Journal initially reported on the administration’s discussions with Congress regarding the sale.
The weapons under discussion would not immediately reach Israel, as the sale requires official congressional notification and approval, which could be a lengthy process if objections arise. Despite this, US officials maintain their commitment to Israel’s self-defense capabilities, suggesting that long-term weapons agreements will continue.
“We are continuing to send military assistance, and we will ensure that Israel receives the full amount provided in the supplemental. We have paused a shipment of 2,000-pound bombs because we do not believe they should be dropped in densely populated cities. We are talking to the Israeli government about this,” said National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan on Monday.
The State Department and the Pentagon declined to provide additional comments on the informal notification, deferring to Sullivan’s remarks, as reported by CNN