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U.S. Continues to Withhold Crucial Military Assistance to Israel

(Ha'aretz) Ben Samuels - The withholding of crucial military assistance from Israel remains a point of contention between the outgoing U.S. administration and the Israeli government. Israeli officials continue to say that U.S. officials have consistently and indiscriminately slow-rolled and halted military shipments to Israel. The issue has been a thorn in the U.S.-Israel relationship since April, when President Joe Biden halted the shipment of 3,000 bombs due to concerns over Israel's looming military operations in Rafah. Biden publicly threatened to outright suspend offensive military assistance if Israel continued with its Rafah operation. Biden would eventually partially lift the freeze, permitting 500-pound bombs but not 2,000-pound bombs. Senators supporting Israel said the delayed military assistance included "120 mm tank ammunition, 120 mm mortar ammunition, light tactical vehicles, air-to-air missiles, F-15s, F-35 engines, joint direct attack munition kits, 2,000 pound bombs, rifles, and guided missile systems," as well as Apache attack helicopters and Caterpillar D9 bulldozers. Rep. Michael McCaul, the ranking Republican on the House Foreign Affairs Committee, wrote Biden saying he was "aware of more than 10 other weapons cases purchased via Direct Commercial Sale (DCS) that have experienced unusual, unexplained delays. Under National Security Presidential Directive-56, [the] State [Department] was directed to complete the review and adjudication of license applications within 60 days of receipt. However, these cases have been awaiting final approval for an average of over four months."
2024-12-19 00:00:00
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