Hungary Considers Buying Drones from Turkey
May 17, 2021
Britain Nears Completion of Construction of HMS Anson Submarine
May 18, 2021U.S. Approves $735 Million Arms Sale to Israel
President Joe Biden’s administration approved the potential sale of $735 million in precision-guided weapons to Israel, the Washington Post first reported, and then Reuters reported. Despite the conflicts between Israel and Palestine, the deal is not expected to be opposed, according to congressional sources.
Israel will purchase JDAM (Joint Direct Attack Munition). Congress was briefed in April on the planned sale as part of the informal review process before the official notification on May 5.
U.S. law allows Congress to object to weapons sales, but it is unlikely to do so in this case. Because Israel is among a handful of countries whose military deals are approved under an expedited process, the typical window for objecting will close before lawmakers can pass a resolution of disapproval, even if they were inclined to.
Meanwhile, U.S. Independent Senator Bernie Sanders of Vermont published an article on the Biden government’s arms sales to Israel with the headline, “Palestinian Life Matters.” Sanders criticized U.S. $4 billion in annual arms aid to Israel. Human rights advocates have strongly condemned President Biden’s support of $735 million in arms sales as “complicity” despite what happened in Gaza.
