The US State Department has informed Congress about the $8 billion arms sale to Israel. By data Axios, the US department has “informally” informed Congress of the proposed deal with Israel, which includes ammunition for fighter jets and attack helicopters, as well as artillery shells.
This is likely to be the last major arms contract for Israel approved by the administration of President Joe Biden. Information about the agreement appeared against the background of statements by the Prime Minister of Israel, Benjamin Netanyahu, that the USA has introduced a silent “embargo” on the supply of weapons to the country.
Some Democrats have insisted that arms sales be contingent on how Israel conducts military operations and resolves humanitarian problems in the Gaza Strip. However, President Biden refused to set such conditions.
According to sources, the agreement is of a long-term nature. Some ammunition may be delivered from US warehouses, but major supplies will take a year or more.
What is included in the deal
The supply plan, which must be approved by the House and Senate Foreign Relations Committees, includes:
- air-to-air AIM-120C-8 AMRAAM missiles to defend against aviation threats, including drones;
- artillery shells;
- Hellfire AGM-114 missiles for attack helicopters;
- small-diameter aerial bombs, JDAM kits to convert conventional bombs into precision bombs, and 500-pound warheads and fuzes.
One of the interlocutors reported that the purpose of the agreement was “strengthening Israel’s long-term security by replenishing critical stockpiles of ammunition and anti-aircraft defenses“.
Direct speech of the US representative:
“The president made it clear that Israel has the right to protect its citizens under international law and international humanitarian law, and to deter aggression by Iran and its proxies. We will continue to provide the necessary means to protect Israel.”.
In the autumn, the US warned Israel that it needed to improve the humanitarian situation in Gaza within the next month, or the country could face restrictions on military aid.
