The Biden administration is close to approving the sale of up to 50 American-made F-15 fighter jets to Israel in a deal expected to be worth over $18 billion. This would be the largest US foreign military sale to Israel since the country’s conflict with Hamas in October. In addition to the fighter jets, the administration is also expected to notify Congress soon of a large new sale of precision-guided munitions to Israel. These new sales of sophisticated weaponry highlight the ongoing military support the US provides to Israel, despite criticisms of Israel’s operations in Gaza which have resulted in the deaths of over 32,000 Palestinians.
The sale of F-15 fighter jets to Israel is likely to spark debate in Congress, particularly among members of the president’s own party. US weapons sales to Israel have faced increased scrutiny in recent months, with Democratic lawmakers calling for restrictions on military aid until Israel allows more humanitarian aid into Gaza and takes steps to protect civilians. Since the attack by Hamas on Israel in October that resulted in the deaths of over 1,200 Israelis, the US has conducted over 100 foreign military sales to Israel. Most of these have fallen below the dollar amount requiring congressional notification.
However, the $18 billion F-15 sale is significant enough to warrant congressional notification, and the administration informally informed the House Foreign Affairs and Senate Foreign Relations committees of the sale in late January. This sale represents a continuation of the US-Israel military relationship, despite ongoing tensions and criticisms of Israeli actions in Gaza. The situation remains fluid, with potential for further updates and developments as the sale progresses. Stay tuned for more information as this story unfolds.
