Joe Biden and Benjamin Netanyahu Photo: Samuel Corum / Zuma Press
The US State Department has informally notified Congress of its intention to sell $8 billion worth of arms to Israel. This was reported by CNN, citing an American official and sources familiar with the situation.
On Friday, the first day of the new Congress, the State Department sent a notification to the House Foreign Affairs Committee and the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. This step comes a few weeks before the end of the Joe Biden administration’s term.
What is included in the agreement?
According to the information, the sale includes AIM-120C-8 AMRAAM precision-guided missiles for countering air threats, including drones. The deal also includes:
- artillery shells,
- Hellfire AGM-114 missiles,
- small calibre bombs (SDBs),
- JDAM guidance kits,
- warheads weighing 500 pounds,
- FMU-152A/B detonators.
Support for Israel’s security
US officials said the sale was aimed at “ensuring Israel’s long-term security, replenishing critical munitions, and strengthening air defence systems”.
“The president made clear that Israel has the right to defend its citizens under international law and humanitarian law,” a Biden administration official said. He also stressed that the US will continue to provide Israel with the necessary defence capabilities.
Last year, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu accused the Biden administration of blocking arms supplies, which caused outrage from Washington, which called the statements “baseless and harmful”.
Some of the ammunition for the deal could be supplied from US warehouses, but most orders will require production, which could take from one to several years.
Criticism from human rights activists
Israel has been repeatedly criticised by international human rights organisations for alleged violations of international law. In particular, the use of American weapons in the conflict with Hamas in the Gaza Strip has led to significant civilian casualties.
However, the United States emphasises its support for Israel as a key ally in the Middle East, stating the need to deter Iranian aggression and other threats in the region.
