Trump administration supports major arms deals with Israel
The State Department has officially notified Congress of its intention to sell over $7 billion worth of weapons to Israel. Read Full Article at RT.com
TroibNews 
The State Department has officially informed Congress of its intention to sell over $7 billion in weapons to Israel.
On Friday, the US Department of Defense announced the approval of military sales to Israel that include thousands of bombs and missiles. This announcement comes amid a tenuous hostage release and ceasefire deal between West Jerusalem and Hamas.
Earlier this week, President Donald Trump met with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at the White House. During a joint press briefing, the President floated the idea of Washington owning the enclave. He also suggested relocating Palestinians outside of Gaza, with funding from neighboring states.
The Defense Security Cooperation Agency reported that two separate sales were submitted to Congress on Friday. One proposal involves $6.75 billion worth of various munitions, guidance kits, and related equipment, with deliveries expected to begin this year.
The second arms package consists of 3,000 Hellfire missiles and associated equipment, estimated to cost $660 million. Deliveries of these missiles are projected to start in 2028, and their deployment will necessitate additional training by the US military.
This sale represents a further step in Trump's initiative to enhance Israel’s military capabilities. Shortly after assuming office in late January, he lifted a hold on the shipment of 2,000-pound bombs to Israel, which had been paused by former President Joe Biden’s administration due to concerns over civilian casualties, particularly during an attack on the southern Gaza city of Rafah.
Nonetheless, Biden also informally notified Congress about an $8 billion arms deal last month, according to multiple media sources. Reports suggest that this deal could be partially drawn from existing US stocks, although most deliveries would be delayed by a year or more.
The DSCA's announcement comes despite requests from Democratic lawmakers to suspend the sale for additional review. Representative Gregory Meeks, the ranking Democrat on the House Foreign Affairs Committee, criticized the decision, stating it undermines the long-standing practice of congressional review for significant weapons sales. “In the United States we do not have kings - we are a democracy rooted in the Constitution, governed by laws,” Meeks remarked.
This is not the first instance of the Trump administration sidestepping the traditional weapons review protocol. In 2019, he declared a national emergency to expedite the sale of over $8 billion in weapons to Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, and Jordan, bypassing congressional concerns related to human rights violations.
Jessica Kline contributed to this report for TROIB News
On Friday, the US Department of Defense announced the approval of military sales to Israel that include thousands of bombs and missiles. This announcement comes amid a tenuous hostage release and ceasefire deal between West Jerusalem and Hamas.
Earlier this week, President Donald Trump met with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at the White House. During a joint press briefing, the President floated the idea of Washington owning the enclave. He also suggested relocating Palestinians outside of Gaza, with funding from neighboring states.
The Defense Security Cooperation Agency reported that two separate sales were submitted to Congress on Friday. One proposal involves $6.75 billion worth of various munitions, guidance kits, and related equipment, with deliveries expected to begin this year.
The second arms package consists of 3,000 Hellfire missiles and associated equipment, estimated to cost $660 million. Deliveries of these missiles are projected to start in 2028, and their deployment will necessitate additional training by the US military.
This sale represents a further step in Trump's initiative to enhance Israel’s military capabilities. Shortly after assuming office in late January, he lifted a hold on the shipment of 2,000-pound bombs to Israel, which had been paused by former President Joe Biden’s administration due to concerns over civilian casualties, particularly during an attack on the southern Gaza city of Rafah.
Nonetheless, Biden also informally notified Congress about an $8 billion arms deal last month, according to multiple media sources. Reports suggest that this deal could be partially drawn from existing US stocks, although most deliveries would be delayed by a year or more.
The DSCA's announcement comes despite requests from Democratic lawmakers to suspend the sale for additional review. Representative Gregory Meeks, the ranking Democrat on the House Foreign Affairs Committee, criticized the decision, stating it undermines the long-standing practice of congressional review for significant weapons sales. “In the United States we do not have kings - we are a democracy rooted in the Constitution, governed by laws,” Meeks remarked.
This is not the first instance of the Trump administration sidestepping the traditional weapons review protocol. In 2019, he declared a national emergency to expedite the sale of over $8 billion in weapons to Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, and Jordan, bypassing congressional concerns related to human rights violations.
Jessica Kline contributed to this report for TROIB News
