Biden Administration Approves Emergency Arms Sale to Israel Without Congressional Input Again

While President Joe Biden's request for approval of a $106 billion aid package for Ukraine, Israel, and other national security needs remains stalled in Congress, his administration has, for the second time this month, approved an "emergency sale" of weapons to Israel without congressional input. According to the Associated Press, the U.S. State Department announced on Friday that Secretary of State Antony Blinken informed Congress that a second "emergency decision" was made to sell $147.5 million worth of equipment for the production of 155mm artillery shells needed by Israel. The State Department's statement emphasized that "given the urgent defense needs of Israel, the Secretary informed Congress that he utilized his delegated authority to determine the existence of an emergency to expedite this transfer." The statement also stressed that "the U.S. is committed to Israel's security and it is vital for U.S. national interests to ensure that Israel has the ability to defend itself against any threats." The "emergency decision" means that there is no need for "congressional review requirements for foreign military sales." Such decisions are rare but not unprecedented. Antony Blinken similarly approved the sale of nearly 14,000 tank ammunition rounds to Israel on December 9. Both actions come as President Biden's request for a nearly $106 billion aid package for Ukraine, Israel, and other national security needs remains at a standstill in Congress. Meanwhile, some Democratic lawmakers have conditioned the $14.3 billion U.S. aid to its Middle Eastern ally on specific actions by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's government to reduce civilian casualties in Gaza during the war with Hamas. The State Department stated that it is in constant contact with Israel to emphasize the importance of minimizing civilian casualties, saying, "We continue to strongly urge the Israeli government that they must not only comply with international humanitarian law but must take every possible step to avoid harm to civilians." The department noted, "Hamas hides behind civilians and embeds itself among the civilian population, but this does not diminish Israel's responsibility and strategic necessity to distinguish between civilians and Hamas terrorists during its military operations. This type of battle can only be won by protecting civilians."