US Approves ‘Emergency’ Arms Sales to Israel

US Approves ‘Emergency’ Arms Sales to Israel

The US State Department approved an ’emergency’ sale of 12,000 bomb shells to Israel on Friday as the two countries are embroiled in an escalating conflict with Iran in the Middle East, AFP reported.

The sale of the 1,000-pound (450-kilogram) bomb was estimated at $151.8 million and was approved by the State Department’s Bureau of Political-Military Affairs, according to a media release.

“This proposed sale will enhance Israel’s capabilities in confronting current and future threats, strengthen its national defense and act as a deterrent against regional threats,” the bureau said in a statement.

In addition to weapons supplies, the sale also includes engineering, logistics and technical support services from the US government and contractors.

Meanwhile, President Donald Trump said in a message on social media on Friday that the United States’ main defense companies agreed to increase production of advanced weapons fourfold.

Typically, American arms sales require Congressional approval. However, Secretary of State Marco Rubio has issued an exception allowing the sale to proceed without Congressional approval, raising concerns among some politicians.

“The Secretary of State has determined and provided detailed justification that an emergency exists that requires the immediate sale of defense articles and defense services to the government of Israel in the national security interests of the United States,” the State Department said, referring to the Arms Export Control Act.

Congressman Gregory Meeks, a Democratic member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, said the move to bypass Congressional review of the arms sales exposed a glaring contradiction in the administration’s arguments about the war.

“The Trump administration has repeatedly emphasized that it is fully prepared for this war.

“However, the hasty use of emergency powers to bypass Congress tells a different story.

“This is an emergency created by the Trump administration itself,” Meeks said in a statement.