The United States again bypassed Congress for an urgent arms sale to Israel. The same thing happened earlier this month.
USA announced the approval of the sale to Israel of high-explosive artillery ammunition worth US$147.5 million without the measure passing through Congress. This was possible due to a provision of “emergency“which prevents it from being discussed on Capitol Hill, where it could have been blocked.
This is the same thing that happened earlier this month, when USA approved the sale of almost 14,000 rounds of 120-millimeter tank ammunition to Israel for the war in the Gaza Strip.
In a statement, the Secretary of State, Anthony Blinken, determined that “there is an emergency that requires immediate sale to the government of Israel” and specified that the ammunition will come from the inventory of the US Army. In this way, the Executive waives the normal requirement for review by Congress and thus avoids a potential blockade by the Republican opposition, which has a majority in the House of Representatives (Lower House).
The reason for the urgent sale of US weapons to Israel
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According to the text, the objective of this new sale is to improve Israel’s capacity “as a deterrent against regional threats and to strengthen the defense of its territory.” In this way, according to the US authorities, this action “will not alter the basic military balance in the region“.
Besides, USA held to be “engaged” with Israel’s security and assured that it is “vital to its national interests” to help the country develop and maintain a self-defense capability strong and ready. “This sale proposal is consistent with those objectives,” the statement said.
Hamas’s reaction to US arms sales to Israel
For their part, the rulers of Hamas in the Gaza Strip on Saturday condemned the approval by USA to Israel.
The Palestinian movement critical to President Joe Biden’s government and said the sale was “clear evidence of the absolute sponsorship of this criminal war by the US administration.” And they maintained that such war atrocities have led to the “merciless killing of children and civilians, the forced displacement of residents and the systematic destruction of civilian lives” in Gaza.
As civilian deaths rise in Gaza, the international image of The United States is hit hard for its continued support of Israel.
Source: Ambito
