U.S. President Joe Biden attends the Asian Pacific American Congressional Institute Gala at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center in Washington, May 14, 2024.
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The Biden administration has told key lawmakers that a new package of weapons and ammunition worth more than $1 billion will be sent to Israel, three congressional aides said Tuesday.
This is the first arms shipment to Israel since the administration announced another arms transfer – including 3,500 bombs – Suspended this month. The U.S. government said it paused the previous transfer to prevent Israel from using the bombs in an intensifying offensive in the crowded southern Gaza city of Rafah.
The White House has been criticized by both sides of the U.S. political spectrum for providing military support to Israel in its seven-month war against Hamas in Gaza.Some of President Biden’s fellow Democrats are urging him to limit offensive weapons transfers to Israel to force U.S. allies to do more protect Palestinian civilians. Many Republicans condemn any reduction in military support for Israel.
Congressional aides said the packages being sent include about $700 million in tank ammunition, $500 million in tactical vehicles and $60 million in mortar shells. They spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss the arms transfers, which have not been made public.
There was no immediate indication as to when the weapons would be shipped.It is unclear whether this shipment belongs to long-delayed foreign aid package The deal, passed by Congress and signed by Biden last month, is part of existing arms sales or new sales.
The Wall Street Journal first reported the plan to move the packages.
House Republicans plan to introduce a bill this week that would force the supply of assault weapons to Israel.Following Biden’s actions Suspension of bomb shipments Republicans were quick to condemn it last week, arguing it represented an abandonment of America’s closest ally in the Middle East.
The White House said on Tuesday that Biden would veto the bill if it were to pass Congress. The bill also has virtually no chance in the Democratic-controlled Senate. But House Democrats are divided on the issue, with about two dozen signing a letter to the Biden administration saying they were “deeply concerned about the message sent by the suspension of bomb shipments.”
New York Rep. Rich Torres, one of the letter’s signatories, said he would likely vote for the bill despite White House opposition.
“My general rule is to support pro-Israel legislation unless it includes a poison pill — such as cuts to domestic policy,” he said.
In addition to the written veto threat, the White House has been in contact with multiple lawmakers and congressional aides about the legislation, an administration official said.
“We strongly, strongly oppose attempts to limit the president’s ability to deploy U.S. security assistance that is consistent with U.S. foreign policy and national security objectives,” White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said this week. She added that the administration planned to spend “the final everything of”. Congress appropriated the money in the national security supplement that Biden signed into law last month.