Washington Post: Top US Democrats in Congress Approve a massive arm deal to Israel worth $18 billion
The Washington Post on Monday quoted three unnamed officials as saying that two senior Democratic members of Congress had agreed to support a major arm deal for Israel involving 50 F-15 fighter jets worth more than $18 billion.
The Washington Post reported that Rep. Gregory Meeks and Senator Ben Cardin signed the deal under intense pressure from the Biden administration after lawmakers caused the sale to be delayed for several months.
Eric Harris, communications director for the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, told the Washington Post, “All of the issues and concerns of Committee Chairman Cardin were addressed through our ongoing consultations with the administration, which is why he felt it was appropriate to allow this to move forward”.
Meeks told the Washington Post he was in close contact with the White House and urged them to pressure Israel over humanitarian efforts and civilian casualties.
The Washington Post quoted him as saying that the F-15s wouldn’t be delivered for years from now.
Pressure is mounting on Biden from members of his Democratic Party over his unstinting support for Israel amid its eight-month offensive on Gaza that has killed more than 37,000 Palestinians and displaced nearly $2.3 million.
Biden is pressing both sides of the conflict to reach a ceasefire.
