In a significant move, the Trump administration has approved a major arms sale to Israel valued at nearly $3 billion, bypassing the traditional Congressional review process. The US State Department notified Congress on Friday that it had authorized the sale of more than 35,500 MK 84 and BLU-117 bombs, along with 4,000 Predator warheads, in a deal worth $2.04 billion.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio justified the expedited decision, citing an emergency national security situation that required immediate action. This justification allowed the sale to proceed without Congressional oversight, with deliveries of these munitions expected to begin next year. In addition to this sale, the State Department also greenlit a separate arms deal worth $675.7 million, which includes additional munitions for Israel, set for delivery starting in 2028.
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Alongside these munitions, the State Department authorized the emergency sale of D9R and D9T Caterpillar bulldozers worth $295 million to Israel. These bulldozers have been used by the Israeli military in the past for various defense and operational purposes.
This recent arms deal follows another major notification by the Biden administration last month, proposing an $8 billion arms sale to Israel. The package includes munitions for fighter jets, attack helicopters, artillery shells, and defense missiles designed to bolster Israel’s long-term security. Notably, the package includes AIM-120C-8 AMRAAM air-to-air missiles, Hellfire AGM-114 missiles for attack helicopters, JDAM tail kits for precision munitions, and 155mm artillery shells.
The proposed $8 billion sale, aimed at defending Israel against a range of threats, including drones and airborne attacks, will require Congressional approval from both the House and Senate Foreign Relations Committees. Delivery of these weapons will span several years, with some munitions sourced from existing US stocks, while others will be newly produced.
The arms sales come amid heightened tensions in the Middle East. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his supporters have accused President Biden of imposing a “silent arms embargo” on Israel. However, these recent deals seem to counter those claims, underscoring continued US support for Israel’s defense capabilities in a volatile region.
