By The opinion
Dec 10, 2023, 01:36 AM EST
He Department of State reported on Saturday that it approved the emergency sale to Israel nearly 14,000 rounds of tank ammunition worth more than $106 million, as Israel intensifies its military operations in the southern Gaza Strip.
The federal agency made the emergency sale to Israel, skipping the standard 20-day period normally given to congressional committees to review such sales.
The Defense Security Cooperation Agency delivered the required certification and notified Congress of this possible sale on December 8reported the State Department.
“The Secretary of State determined and provided detailed justification to Congress that an emergency exists requiring the immediate sale to the Government of Israel of the aforementioned defense articles and services in the interest of the national security of the United States,” notes the release.
With this, the text adds, “the congressional review requirements” are waived, relying on the Arms Export Control Law.
The statement followed a request from the State Department earlier in the week that Congress will approve the sale of 45,000 projectiles to Israel for your Merkava tanks.
“The United States is committed to Israel’s security and it is vital to its national interests to help Israel develop and maintain a strong and ready self-defense capability,” the State Department text states.
The proposed sale of this equipment “will not alter the basic military balance in the region,” the United States assured, but rather will be “a sale of the inventory of the US military.” and “there will be no adverse impact” on the country’s defense.
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