Biden Approves an $8 Billion Arms Sale to Israel

The administration of U.S. President Joe Biden has approved an $8 billion arms deal with Israel, which includes 155 mm artillery shells, AGM-114 Hellfire missiles, and small diameter bombs, along with 500-pound warheads and anti-aircraft ammunition.

According to a source familiar with the matter, the deal still requires approval from the U.S. Congress, which is currently controlled by the Republican Party. An official from the State Department confirmed that the department has informally notified Congress about the deal, which aims to replenish Israel’s vital ammunition stockpiles and enhance its air defense capabilities, supporting “Israel’s long-term security.”

Despite pressures from human rights organizations and some Democratic congress members against such deals, President Biden has insisted on affirming Israel’s right to self-defense in accordance with international law and considers the deal a tool to deter Iranian aggression and its allied organizations.

On the other side, Senator Bernie Sanders sharply criticized the U.S. sales to Israel, demanding in a speech before Congress an end to these deals, stating: “The United States is complicit in these atrocities through its funding, and this complicity must end.”

It is noted that the U.S. Congress has passed several legislations to grant $12.6 billion in regular and supplementary direct appropriations from the State and Defense Departments to Israel for fiscal years 2024 and 2025. Prior to this, it approved a supplementary emergency aid package that includes $14.3 billion in aid to Israel, in addition to $3.8 billion in annual military aid agreed upon during former President Barack Obama’s tenure, continuing until 2028.

Since 1948, the total value of U.S. aid to Israel has amounted to about $186 billion, including $218 billion in military aid, $76 billion in economic aid, and $16 billion to support missile programs, with the total value reaching an estimated $310 billion after adjusting for inflation, according to the Congressional Research Service data.