Two influential Democratic lawmakers in the U.S. Congress have approved a major arms sale to Israel, according to a report in the Washington Post.
Representative Gregory Meeks and Senator Ben Cardin have signed off on the deal, which includes the sale of 50 F-15 fighter jets worth over $18 billion. This comes after the two lawmakers had previously held up the sale for months.
“Any issues or concerns Chair Cardin had were addressed through our ongoing consultations with the (Biden) Administration, and that’s why he felt it appropriate to allow this case to move forward,” said Eric Harris, communications director for the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.
Meeks stated that he had been in close contact with the White House and had urged them to pressure Israel over humanitarian efforts and civilian casualties in the ongoing conflict in Gaza.
He noted that the F-15s would not be delivered until “years from now.”
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The arms sale approval follows increasing pressure on President Biden from members of his own Democratic party over his unwavering support for Israel amidst the eight-month-old assault on Gaza.
The conflict has killed over 37,000 Palestinians and displaced nearly the entire 2.3 million population.
Biden has called on both sides to reach a ceasefire, but the latest development indicates the administration’s commitment to maintaining military aid to Israel despite the growing domestic political tensions.
