May 15th 2024.
In a recent update, the Biden administration has informed key members of Congress that they intend to provide more than $1 billion in additional arms and ammunition to Israel. This news, shared by three anonymous congressional aides on Tuesday, has sparked questions about when these weapons will be delivered.
This announcement marks the first time the administration has revealed an arms shipment to Israel since they put a previous transfer on hold. This transfer included 3,500 bombs weighing up to 2,000 pounds each, and was halted earlier this month due to concerns about the civilian casualties in Gaza. The administration wanted to prevent Israel from using these specific munitions in their ongoing offensive in the densely populated city of Rafah.
The arms package, disclosed by the aides, consists of approximately $700 million for tank ammunition, $500 million for tactical vehicles, and $60 million for mortar rounds. While the exact timing of the shipment is still unknown, it is not part of the foreign aid package that was recently passed by Congress and signed by President Biden. It is also unclear if this is a new arms sale or a continuation of a previous one.
The Biden administration has been facing criticism from both sides of the political spectrum for their military support of Israel's seven-month-long conflict with Hamas in Gaza. Some Democrats have urged the administration to limit the transfer of offensive weapons to Israel in order to pressure them to better protect Palestinian civilians. This sentiment has been echoed in protests on college campuses throughout the country.
On the other hand, Republican lawmakers have condemned the administration's decision to pause the bomb transfers, arguing that any decrease in support for Israel weakens their ability to fight against Hamas and other groups backed by Iran. In fact, House Republicans are planning to introduce a bill this week that would require the delivery of offensive weaponry to Israel.
Despite the temporary halt of the bomb shipment, the Biden administration has made it clear that they will continue to provide military support to Israel. National security spokesman John Kirby stated that President Biden is committed to ensuring that Israel has all the necessary means to defend itself against its enemies, including Hamas. However, the president does not want certain categories of American weapons to be used in specific operations in certain locations. This stance has remained consistent throughout his presidency.
The Wall Street Journal was the first to report on the plans for the $1 billion weapons package to Israel. In response to the House Republicans' bill, the White House has stated that President Biden would veto it if it were to pass through Congress. While the bill is not expected to pass in the Democrat-controlled Senate, there is some division among House Democrats on the issue. Approximately two dozen have signed a letter to the administration expressing their concern over the pause on the bomb shipment. However, one of the letter's signers, Representative Ritchie Torres, has stated that he would likely vote for the bill despite the White House's opposition.
In addition to the written veto threat, the White House has been in contact with various lawmakers and aides regarding the legislation. According to an administration official, they are strongly opposed to any attempts to limit the President's ability to deploy security assistance in line with US foreign policy and national security objectives. White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre has also stated that the administration plans to fully utilize the funds allocated by Congress in the national security supplemental package signed by President Biden last month.
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