Just before the new year, the Biden administration for a second time in a month approved a provision that would transfer weapons to the Israelis without congressional approval. But, top U.S. officials for weeks have publicly called on Israel to ensure civilians remain out of harm’s way as the death toll in Gaza rises into the tens of thousands.
Senate Democrats, meanwhile, say the transfer of weapons to Israel without congressional oversight undermines transparency, marking the latest rift among Democrats when it comes to the Israel-Hamas war.
“The U.S. must not write a blank check for [Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s] war in Gaza and his right-wing government, which has demonstrated a gross disregard for Palestinian civilians,” Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) told The Hill in a statement.
“If the Biden administration won’t be transparent with Congress and the American people, Congress should act and close these loopholes for arm sales for Israel.”
Secretary of State Antony Blinken approved the more than $147 million sale of equipment including fuses, charges and primers, which are needed for the 155 mm shells Israel already has.
The administration announced the sale Friday, using an emergency authority some lawmakers said skirted an essential step.
The Biden administration, which had proposed an aid package that coupled money for Israel and Ukraine that Congress late last year could not advance, defended the sale.
“The United States is committed to the security of Israel, and it is vital to U.S. national interests to ensure Israel is able to defend itself against the threats it faces. This proposed sale is consistent with those objectives,” a spokesperson for the State Department said in a statement.
The last few weeks has seen a marked increase in pressure by U.S. officials — several of whom have traveled to the region — in calling on Israel to ease up on its attacks in Gaza and focus on targeting Hamas while minimizing civilian casualties.
While Biden’s pro-Israel stance has been steadfast since the deadly Oct. 7 attacks, rifts between Netanyahu, Biden and other U.S. officials have spilled into public view, especially when it comes to a post-war Gaza and the intensity of the fighting in the Palestinian enclave.
But the second arms sale to Israel without congressional approval is making senators question the White House’s strategy and messaging.
Read the full report at TheHill.com.
