In a move that has stirred heated debate both domestically and internationally, President Joe Biden's administration has once again sidestepped Congressional approval for an emergency weapons sale to Israel, allowing the nation to escalate its military campaign in the Gaza Strip. The $147.5 million sale, approved by Secretary of State Antony Blinken, marks the second emergency determination in less than a month.
The State Department justified the decision by citing the urgency of Israel's defensive needs. The package includes crucial components such as fuses, charges, and primers necessary for the production of 155mm shells. Notably, the emergency determination bypasses the customary Congressional review process for foreign military sales, a move employed by previous administrations but drawing increased scrutiny this time.
While the Biden administration has emphasized its commitment to Israel's security, critics argue that the decision contradicts the administration's recent calls for de-escalation in the region. Al Jazeera's Patty Culhane, reporting from Washington, D.C., highlighted the apparent contradiction, stating that the U.S. is simultaneously urging Israel to decrease the intensity of conflict while providing the munitions needed to sustain a high-intensity campaign.
The package includes 155mm M107 projectiles, artillery shells that can cause widespread destruction in densely populated areas like Gaza. The quantity of these shells remains undisclosed, but experts suggest that thousands could be included in the $147.5 million deal.
Al Jazeera's senior political analyst Marwan Bishara called the decision "astounding" and questioned the administration's rationale for bypassing Congress twice within a month. Bishara labeled the move "morally scandalous" given the significant civilian casualties in the ongoing conflict, characterizing it as "politically suspect."
The decision comes amid the Biden administration's push for a $106 billion aid package, facing obstacles in Congress due to debates on immigration and border security policies. Critics argue that the U.S. maintaining contact with Israel to minimize civilian casualties while simultaneously providing military support creates a contradictory and challenging-to-understand stance.
The conflict in Gaza has reached a devastating scale, with Israel reportedly dropping 29,000 bombs, munitions, and shells on the region by mid-December, causing severe destruction to homes. Some Democratic lawmakers are advocating for aid to Israel to be contingent on concrete promises to reduce civilian casualties
