U.S. Sells $147.5-M Worth Of Weapons To Israel Sans Congress OK

For the second time this month, the Biden administration is bypassing Congress to approve an emergency weapons sale to Israel as Israel continues to prosecute its war against Hamas in Gaza under increasing international criticism, Matthew Lee reported for the Associated Press (AP).

Blinken made a similar decision on Dec. 9 to approve the sale to Israel of nearly 14,000 rounds of tank ammunition worth more than $106 million. I Photo: Secretary Antony Blinken X

The State Department said Friday that Secretary of State Antony Blinken had told Congress that he had made a second emergency determination covering a $147.5 million sale for equipment, including fuses, charges, and primers, that is needed to make the 155 mm shells that Israel has already purchased function.

“Given the urgency of Israel’s defensive needs, the secretary notified Congress that he had exercised his delegated authority to determine an emergency existed necessitating the immediate approval of the transfer,” the department said.

Such determination has been used by four administrations since 1979.

The emergency determination means the purchase will bypass the congressional review requirement for foreign military sales.

Such determinations are rare, but not unprecedented when administrations see an urgent need for weapons to be delivered without waiting for approval.

Blinken made a similar decision on Dec. 9 to approve the sale to Israel of nearly 14,000 rounds of tank ammunition worth more than $106 million.

Both moves have come as President Joe Biden’s request for a nearly $106 billion aid package for Ukraine, Israel, and other national security needs remains stalled in Congress.

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