Biden Pushing $500 Million Arms Sale to Israel: Report

Worth over $500 million, the potential sale would restock Israel’s arsenal of 120-millimeter shells, as per four unnamed sources cited by the outlet. Authorization from Congress is required for the transfer, yet some lawmakers remain skeptical.

Josh Paul, a former State Department official, said, “This went to committees earlier this week and they are supposed to have 20 days to review Israel cases. (The State Department) is pushing them to clear (the sale) now.” Another official affirmed these statements, noting the State Department's effort to expedite approval through the Senate Foreign Relations and House Foreign Affairs committees.

Reports suggest Biden might bypass legislators to proceed with a smaller sale of 13,000 tank shells under emergency authorities. However, no definitive decision has been reached, according to two US officials.

Senator Chris Van Hollen urged the White House to allow sufficient time for congressional scrutiny, emphasizing, “The administration should not consider short-circuiting the already short time frame for congressional review of this or any other arms transfer.”

Separate from a $14.3 billion direct military aid package in Congress, the $500 million deal has drawn criticism from some of Biden’s Senate allies due to escalating casualties in Gaza. Senator Bernie Sanders urged the US to leverage its influence over Israel to mitigate the violence.

The United States remains Israel’s primary military donor, having already transferred substantial weaponry since October, as reported by the Wall Street Journal. In addition to the annual $3.8 billion assistance, the recent aid adds to Israel’s armaments.

Local officials report over 17,000 Palestinians, including more than 7,100 children, killed in the ongoing Israeli military operation since October.