ALWAGHT- The administration of US President Donald Trump has sought congressional approval for a $1 billion arms sale to Israel, reinforcing Washington's backing of Tel Aviv amid its actions in Palestine.
The Wall Street Journal reported that the Trump administration has requested congressional approval for a new $1 billion arms package for Israel, including 4,700 1,000-pound bombs and Caterpillar D9 armored bulldozers. This funding comes from the $3.8 billion in annual US military assistance to Israel. The bombs and bulldozers have been used in Israeli operations in the West Bank, particularly in Jenin. The request coincides with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s visit to Washington, where he is scheduled to meet Trump to discuss a Gaza ceasefire, Lebanon’s conflict, and broader regional tensions.
During his visit, Netanyahu also met with Elon Musk to explore potential collaboration between Israel and the US in artificial intelligence. The meeting highlighted Israel’s strategic role in the US’s AI investments, with Netanyahu calling Musk “a great friend of Israel.” Reports from The Washington Post revealed that US tech companies have provided Israel with advanced AI services since the start of the Gaza war to bolster its military operations. Meanwhile, Netanyahu is seeking to expedite a separate $8 billion arms transfer, including bombs, missiles, and artillery rounds, previously requested under the Biden administration but delayed due to concerns from Democratic lawmakers over humanitarian consequences.
Trump recently lifted restrictions on the sale of 2,000-pound bombs that had been paused under Biden, defending the decision by stating that Israel had already paid for the weapons. Netanyahu publicly thanked Trump for his continued military support. Over the past year, the US has supplied Israel with $17.9 billion in weaponry, despite growing international criticism of its actions in Gaza. Since October 2023, Israeli attacks have killed nearly 62,000 Palestinians, mostly women and children, in Gaza, and over 900 in the occupied West Bank.
