U.S. Embassy Tel Aviv
The Trump administration has authorized a significant arms sale to Israel, amounting to nearly $3 billion, circumventing the standard congressional review process. This sale includes additional 2,000-pound bombs that Israel has utilized in its conflict with Hamas in Gaza.
In a series of notifications dispatched to Congress late Friday, the State Department confirmed its approval for the sale of over 35,500 MK 84 and BLU-117 bombs, along with 4,000 Predator warheads, totaling $2.04 billion.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio has assessed and provided a comprehensive rationale indicating that an emergency situation necessitates the immediate transfer of these defense articles and services to the Government of Israel, thereby waiving the usual Congressional review protocols, as stated by the department.
Deliveries are anticipated to commence next year. Furthermore, under the same emergency justification, the department noted that Rubio has sanctioned an additional munitions sale to Israel valued at $675.7 million, with deliveries scheduled to begin in 2028. Additionally, Rubio has approved the emergency sale of D9R and D9T Caterpillar bulldozers, amounting to $295 million.
