The State Department has officially notified Congress of its intention to proceed with the sale of over $8 billion in military equipment to Israel, a decision deemed controversial due to its bypass of an ongoing informal review process in Congress. The announcement follows a recent meeting between President Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, where Trump articulated ambitions to revitalize the devastated Gaza Strip into a Middle Eastern luxury destination.
On the notification day, the Pentagon detailed the sale of 3,000 Hellfire air-to-ground missiles priced at $660 million, along with $6.75 billion in bombs and guidance kits earmarked for Israel. This total arms package, exceeding $8 billion, also includes artillery shells whose sale was not publicly detailed since it was conducted as a direct commercial transaction and thus did not necessitate a press release.
The Biden administration originally announced the $8 billion package in January and sent it for informal review to the House Foreign Affairs and Senate Foreign Relations committees. During this review period, Congressional lawmakers have the opportunity to raise inquiries about the transactions before deciding on their approval. Approval for the sales seemed secure when top Republican members of both committees voiced their support, along with a Democratic senator. However, Representative Gregory W. Meeks, the leading Democrat on the House committee, sought to leverage the review to ask further questions.
Despite Mr. Meeks's intentions to garner a thoughtful examination of the sales, the State Department proceeded after only 20 days of informal review, a standard duration allowed for such proceedings. With Congress facing high hurdles to impede the sales—requiring a two-thirds majority in both chambers—the arms sales are expected to go forward.
Following the announcement, Mr. Meeks expressed significant concerns, labeling the administration's actions as an erosion of established practices, where Congress traditionally plays a crucial role in arms transfers. He acknowledged the imperative of supporting Israel against various regional threats but emphasized that his support was not without conditions. Mr. Meeks has voiced frustrations regarding inadequate responses from the administration to his inquiries, suggesting a lack of transparency and justification for pushing forward with the sales against congressional prerogatives.
On the notification day, the Pentagon detailed the sale of 3,000 Hellfire air-to-ground missiles priced at $660 million, along with $6.75 billion in bombs and guidance kits earmarked for Israel. This total arms package, exceeding $8 billion, also includes artillery shells whose sale was not publicly detailed since it was conducted as a direct commercial transaction and thus did not necessitate a press release.
The Biden administration originally announced the $8 billion package in January and sent it for informal review to the House Foreign Affairs and Senate Foreign Relations committees. During this review period, Congressional lawmakers have the opportunity to raise inquiries about the transactions before deciding on their approval. Approval for the sales seemed secure when top Republican members of both committees voiced their support, along with a Democratic senator. However, Representative Gregory W. Meeks, the leading Democrat on the House committee, sought to leverage the review to ask further questions.
Despite Mr. Meeks's intentions to garner a thoughtful examination of the sales, the State Department proceeded after only 20 days of informal review, a standard duration allowed for such proceedings. With Congress facing high hurdles to impede the sales—requiring a two-thirds majority in both chambers—the arms sales are expected to go forward.
Following the announcement, Mr. Meeks expressed significant concerns, labeling the administration's actions as an erosion of established practices, where Congress traditionally plays a crucial role in arms transfers. He acknowledged the imperative of supporting Israel against various regional threats but emphasized that his support was not without conditions. Mr. Meeks has voiced frustrations regarding inadequate responses from the administration to his inquiries, suggesting a lack of transparency and justification for pushing forward with the sales against congressional prerogatives.
