Biden administration authorises emergency weaponry sale to Israel, evading Congressional review

Circumventing Congressional approval, the Biden administration authorized an emergency weapons sale to Israel on Friday, for the second time in December. The Defense Department confirmed the sale includes "projectiles and related equipment" critical for Israel's operations amidst its ongoing conflict with Hamas.

Secretary of State Antony Blinken, as detailed by the Defense Department, justified the immediate sale to Israel, thereby bypassing the required Congressional review processes for such defense equipment transactions to other nations.

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This latest sale, amounting to an estimated total of $147.5 million, encompasses additional components such as fuzes, primers, and charges. These ancillary items reportedly render previously purchased 155mm shells operational, according to a statement by a State Department spokesperson, cited in an Axios report.

This recent move follows a similar bypass earlier in December, where the administration executed an emergency weapons sale worth approximately $106.5 million, providing Israel with nearly 14,000 rounds of tank ammunition.

Simultaneously, amidst these defense transactions, the Biden administration has presented a request to Congress for a substantial $106 billion aid package. This proposed package aims to interlink assistance between Ukraine and Israel.

The consecutive emergency sales without Congressional approval reflect the urgency perceived by the administration concerning Israel's ongoing military endeavors and the broader geopolitical landscape. These actions come amidst heightened international attention and discussions regarding the nature of aid and support extended to nations involved in conflicts, with Israel's actions in Gaza drawing particular scrutiny.

The decision to facilitate these emergency arms sales underscores the complex challenges faced by the Biden administration in balancing strategic alliances, regional stability, and the nuances of foreign policy in a turbulent global environment.