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Jimmy Williams
In a move bypassing the usual congressional approval, the Biden administration has greenlit a second emergency weapons sale to Israel. This decision comes as Israel faces criticism for its actions in the ongoing conflict with Hamas in Gaza.
The State Department revealed on Friday that Secretary of State Antony Blinken had informed Congress about an emergency determination for a $147.5 million sale, providing essential equipment like fuses, charges, and primers. These components are crucial for the functioning of 155 mm shells previously purchased by Israel.
“The secretary notified Congress that he had exercised his delegated authority to determine an emergency existed necessitating the immediate approval of the transfer,” stated the State Department, emphasizing the urgency of Israel’s defensive requirements.
This emergency determination means the arms purchase will skip the usual congressional review for foreign military sales. While such decisions are rare, they occur when there’s a pressing need to deliver weapons without waiting for lawmakers’ approval.
This recent approval follows a similar decision made on December 9th, where Blinken sanctioned the sale of nearly 14,000 rounds of tank ammunition worth over $106 million to Israel. Both instances underline the Biden administration’s commitment to Israel’s security.
These emergency actions become particularly notable as President Biden’s request for an aid package of almost $106 billion for Ukraine, Israel, and other national security needs faces obstacles in Congress. The aid package is currently entangled in a broader debate about U.S. immigration policy and border security.
The State Department addressed potential concerns about human rights, stating that it maintains continuous communication with Israel, emphasizing the importance of minimizing civilian casualties. The statement reiterated the need for Israel to comply with international humanitarian law and take every feasible step to protect civilians.
The State Department recognized the challenging nature of the conflict, with Hamas embedding itself among the civilian population. It emphasized that Israel has a responsibility to distinguish between civilians and terrorists during military operations.
The decision to use emergency determinations for arms sales, bypassing Congress, is an uncommon step that has faced resistance in the past. Ordinarily, lawmakers have a window of time to review proposed weapons transfers and, in some cases, block them.
This approach recalls a similar move in 2019 when then-Secretary of State Mike Pompeo made an emergency determination for an $8.1 billion arms sale to Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, and Jordan. This decision stirred controversy, with concerns about the use of weapons in the Saudi and UAE-led war in Yemen. However, Pompeo was later cleared of any wrongdoing after an internal investigation.
This marks at least the fifth instance since 1979 that a U.S. administration has used emergency authority for arms sales. Notably, during the Gulf War, President George H.W. Bush’s administration employed this authority to expedite arms delivery to Saudi Arabia.
