The State Department has informally notified Congress of its intention to sell $8 billion in arms to Israel. The notification was sent to the House Foreign Affairs Committee and Senate Foreign Relations Committee on the first day of the new Congress. This move comes just weeks before the Biden administration leaves office.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had previously accused the Biden administration of withholding weapons from Israel, a claim that was refuted by a Biden envoy as 'completely untrue' and 'unproductive'.
Despite facing accusations of violating international law, particularly in its conflict with Hamas in Gaza, Israel is set to receive a range of weapons in the proposed sale. This includes AIM-120C-8 AMRAAM air-to-air missiles, artillery shells, Hellfire AGM-114 missiles, Small Diameter Bombs (SDBs), JDAM tail kits, 500-pound warheads, and FMU-152A/B bomb fuses.
The US official stated that the sale aims to resupply Israel with critical munitions and enhance its air defense capabilities to ensure long-term security. The justification for the sale is based on Israel's right to defend its citizens in accordance with international law and humanitarian principles, as well as to deter aggression from Iran and its proxies.
While some of the munitions can be provided from existing US stock, the majority will take up to several years to deliver. The informal notification process allows congressional committees to raise concerns or provide input on planned sales, ensuring transparency and oversight.
