The State Department is going around Congress, approving a $106 million sale of tank ammo to Israel

In a tour of Congress, the Biden administration said Saturday it had approved the accidental sale to Israel of nearly 14,000 tanks worth more than $106 million as Israel. increase his military activities in southern Gaza.

The move comes as President Biden requests for a nearly $106 billion aid package for Ukraine, Israel and other national defenses that are weak in Congress, caught in a debate on US policy and border protection. Some democratic politicians have talked about making $ 14.3 billion of American aid to its partner in the Middle East, depending on the concrete steps of the government of the Prime Minister of Israel Benjamin Netanyahu to reduce the public that killed in Gaza during the war with Hamas.

The State Department said it notified Congress about the sale late Friday after Secretary of State Antony Blinken decided “there is an emergency that requires it.” the immediate sale” of weapons to the US National Security interest.

This means that the purchase will eliminate congressional requirements for foreign military purchases. Such decisions are rare, but not uncommon when authorities see an urgent need for weapons to be issued without waiting for the approval of lawmakers.

“The United States is committed to the security of Israel, and it is essential to the needs of the American nation to help Israel develop and maintain a strong military force and to provide self-defense. a statement. “Israel will use the increased capability as a deterrent to regional threats and strengthen its national defense.”

The purchase is worth $106.5 million and includes 13,981 120 mm High Explosive Anti-Tank Multi-Purpose with Tracer tanks as well as US support, engineering and logistics. The items will come from the Army inventory.

The passage of Congress and the emergency measures for arms sales is an unusual step in the past that has met opposition from lawmakers, who usually have time to consider the transferring weapons and, in some cases, blocking them.

In May, 2019, Mike Pompeo became Secretary of State make a sudden decision for $8.1 billion in arms sales to Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Jordan later it was obvious The Trump administration will have a problem solving the concerns of lawmakers about the Saudi-UA-led war in Yemen.

Pompeo came under heavy criticism for the move, which some believed may have violated the law because many of the weapons involved were not built and could not be delivered quickly. But he was cleared of any wrongdoing after an internal investigation.

At least four administrations have used the authority since 1979. The administration of President George HW Bush used it during the Gulf War to quickly ship weapons to Saudi Arabia.