The Pentagon said on Friday that Secretary of State Anthony Blinken had approved a potential deal to sell 155mm M107 rifles and related equipment to Israel for $147.5 million.
The Pentagon added in a statement that Blinken had determined that there was “an emergency that requires the immediate sale of these weapons to Israel,” suspending the requirement for Congress to review the deal.
In his notification to Congress, Blinken said, “In view of the national interests of the United States and in light of its commitment to Israel’s security and the threats to which it is exposed, there is a state of emergency that requires the immediate sale of defense materials and services to the government of Israel, and a waiver of the requirements for congressional review in this regard.”
He added that Israel “will use these weapons to strengthen its defenses and as a deterrent to regional threats.”
This is the second time that Blinken has made a decision of this kind, bypassing the requirements for Congress to review foreign military sales since the beginning of the Israeli war on the Gaza Strip.
On December 9, Washington had also “emergencyly” agreed to sell Israel approximately 14,000 120 mm tank shells for use in its war on Gaza.
Since the beginning of the Israeli aggression on the Gaza Strip on October 7, Washington has declared its full support for Israel politically and militarily, and has prevented a ceasefire resolution from being reached in the Security Council several times.
The Israeli newspaper Yedioth Ahronoth revealed a few days ago that the United States has sent more than 230 cargo planes and 20 ships loaded with weapons to Israel since the start of the war.
