It will be rather difficult to pressure Israel into “negotiating,” since
Israel has US munitions and weaponry to destroy Hamas entirely on its own.
The State Department last week approved the transfer of 25 F-35A fighter jets and engines, a US official added. The planes and engines are estimated to be worth around $2.5 billion.
There are no corresponding announcements on the Defense Security Cooperation Agency’s website where such notifications are normally posted.
On Friday, Senator Bernie Sanders criticised Biden administration’s approval of sending more weapons to Israel. “The US cannot beg Netanyahu to stop bombing civilians one day and the next send him thousands more 2,000 lb. bombs that can level entire city blocks. This is obscene,” Sanders said on X, sharing the report of Washington Post. “We must end our complicity: No more bombs to Israel,” Sanders reiterated.
Yawn......doesnt make any difference who’s president. America’s interests always come last.
Obama’s $38 billion Israeli deal that covered fiscal years 2019-2028 included:
<><>-annual US payments to Israel of $3.3 billion in “military financing,”
<><>-$500 million a year for Israel’s missile defense operations in the Negev, a foreign aid first,
<><>-A phasing-out of Israel’s decades-long “special arrangement”
<><>ie. Israel used 26.3% of US aid on its own global defense industry (not on US-made weapons).
<><>-Eliminates Israel using some 13% of US aid to buy military fuel.
<><>-will allow Israel to update “the lion’s share” of its fighter aircraft,
<><>includes purchasing additional F-35 Joint Strike Fighters.
<><>Israel is to initially receive thirty-three F-35 aircraft,
<><>the first two F-35’s will be delivered in December.
The (a) weaponry build-up from Obama 2018 into 2028, (b) follows the $30 billion weaponry deal Israel signed in 2007, which expires at the end of fiscal 2018, and (c) a systematic buildup of Israeli arms, like this one in 2015.
ISRAEL – JOINT DIRECT ATTACK MUNITION TAIL KITS AND MUNITIONS
Defense Security Cooperation Agency
Media/Public Contact
pm-cpa@state.gov
Transmittal No 15-36
WASHINGTON, May 19, 2015
As required by US law, the Defense Security Cooperation Agency delivered the required certification notifying Congress of this possible sale to Israel on May 18, 2015: Joint Direct Attack Munition Tail Kits, munitions, and associated equipment, parts and logistical support for an estimated cost of $1.879 billion.
The Government of Israel has requested:
<><>14,500 KMU-556C/B Joint Direct Attack Munitions (JDAM) tail kits
<><>consisting of 10,000 for Mk-84;
<><>500 for Mk-83;
<><>and,4,000 for Mk-82;
<><>3,500 Mk-82 bombs; 4,500 Mk-83 bombs;
<><>50 BLU-113 bombs;
<><>4,100 GBU-39 Small Diameter bombs;
<><>1,500 Mk-83 Paveway kits;
<><>700 BLU-109 Paveway kits;
<><>3,000 AGM-114K/R Hellfire Missiles,
<><>250 AIM-120C Advanced Medium Range Air-to-Air Missiles;
<><>and 500 DSU-38A/B Detector Laser Illuminated Target kits for JDAMs.
The proposed sale of this equipment will provide Israel
<><>the ability to support its self-defense needs
<><>enable Israel to maintain operational capability of its existing systems
<><>and will enhance Israel’s interoperability with the United States.
Israel already has these US munitions in its inventory, and will have no difficulty absorbing the additional US munitions into its armed forces.
When it came time to pay, Israeli lobbies got the Congress to declare the munition sales a “gift.”
All questions regarding this proposed Foreign Military Sale should be directed to the State Department’s Bureau of Political Military Affairs, Office of Congressional and Public Affairs, pm-cpa@state.gov.