Economy News Update
The United States Department of Defense has confirmed the approval of arms sales to Israel, with a total transaction value approximating $3 billion. This decision includes the provision of bombs, demolition equipment, and various other weaponry.
Congress was alerted regarding these possible arms sales on an expedited basis this past Friday afternoon, a move that bypasses the standard protocol. Typically, this protocol entails allowing the leadership and members of both the House Foreign Affairs Committee and the Senate Foreign Relations Committee to examine the transaction and request additional information prior to official notification to Congress.
Details of the Shipment
The sales are structured in three separate stages. The first phase includes the provision of 35,529 bombs, each weighing approximately 1000 kilograms, alongside 4,000 guided bombs of the same weight, manufactured by General Dynamics.
The Pentagon has indicated that initial delivery operations are set to commence in 2026; however, it also stated that “there is a possibility that part of these purchases will come from the American stock,” which could facilitate immediate availability of specific items.
The second phase entails a package valued at $675 million, comprising 5,000 bombs weighing about 500 kilograms, along with the necessary equipment designed to assist in guiding unguided bombs. Deliveries for this package are projected to occur in 2028.
The third notification includes the sale of bulldozers from Caterpillar, valued at $295 million.
This marks the second instance within a month that the administration has invoked a state of emergency to expedite weapon sales to Israel. Previously, the administration of former President Joe Biden also employed emergency powers to authorize such transactions without congressional review.
On Monday, the Trump administration repealed an order from the Biden era that mandated reporting on potential violations of international law concerning U.S. weaponry supplied to allies, including Israel.
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