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U.S. Approves $735 Million Arms Sale To Israel Amid Standoff With Palestine

By • May 18, 2021 1:06 pm

On Monday, the US approved a $735 million arms sale to Israel, amid an escalating standoff with Palestinian forces following a series of terror attacks for almost over a week.

The sale, which Congress was reportedly notified on May 5, will be focused on Israel obtaining precision missiles and special munitions from the US, according to reports.

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Even as Israel has increased the pressure and have begun to inflict significant harm on the terrorists from the Palestinian side – who have shot over 3,100 rockets at Israel – the administration of Democrat Joe Biden has been calling for a halt to the war between Israel forces and Palestinian terrorist groups in Gaza.

“Spoke today with Egyptian Foreign Minister Shoukry to discuss the ongoing violence in Israel, West Bank, and Gaza,” said Secretary of State Antony Blinken. “All parties need to de-escalate tensions – the violence must end immediately.”

He added that “Israelis and Palestinians deserve equal measures of freedom, dignity, security, and prosperity.”

“I spoke with @IsraeliPM today about the ongoing situation in Israel including rocket fire emanating from the Gaza Strip targeting Israeli civilians. Israel has the right to defend itself. Palestinians need to be able to live in safety and security. It’s vital now to de-escalate,” Blinken added in a series of tweets about the ongoing standoff between Israel and Palestine.

“I spoke with President Abbas about the ongoing situation in Jerusalem, the West Bank and Gaza. I expressed condolences for the loss of life. I emphasized the need to end rocket attacks and de-escalate tensions,” he added.

Former Secretary of State and CIA Director Mike Pompeo noted that the Biden administration is attempting to distance itself from Israel – a US ally – and is instead pushing renewed talks with Iran the number one state sponsor of terrorism worldwide. 

“The Biden Administration has distanced itself from Israel by attempting to revive the failed Iran deal, siding with the Ayatollahs over our ally,” Pompeo tweeted. 

“America must be strong and defend its allies without hesitation.”

The weapons’ sale comes after Israel pounded Palestinian terrorists over the weekend by blowing up miles of hidden terror tunnels and attacking top terrorists’ homes.

“Senior Palestinian Islamic Jihad commander Hassam Abu-Arbid was killed in an Israeli airstrike in the northern Gaza Strip Monday afternoon as rockets fired from the blockaded enclave continued to be fired towards southern Israel communities,” The The Jerusalem Post reported. 

“The IDF said that Abu-Arbid, was killed in a joint operation with the Shin Bet intelligence services, commanded over the northern Gaza Strip brigade of the terror organization and was behind the launching of rockets and anti-tank guided missiles towards Israel,” it added.

The Israeli strike comes as Palestinian terrorists have fired more than 3,100 rockets at Israel in recent days, with about 450 of them landing inside Gaza, according to the article.

The IDF also reportedly destroyed more than nine miles of tunnels used by terrorists in a 20-minute assault that included 54 fighter jets dropping more than 100 precision bombs, according to the study.

“A short while ago, IDF fighter jets struck a Hamas tunnel shaft in the area of Khan Yunis of the southern Gaza Strip. The tunnel contained military equipment and was located adjacent to a kindergarten, a mosque and a hospital. This proves once again how the Hamas terror organization deliberately places its military assets in the heart of densely populated civilian areas,” the IDF said in a statement.

“The IDF provided advance warning to civilians in the building in order to allow them sufficient time to evacuate the site. In addition IDF fighter jets struck offices belonging to Hamas Internal Security, which served as terror infrastructure,” it added.

Following the arms sale, some progressive lawmakers are questioning the deal.

Senator Bernie Sanders tweeted: “The devastation in Gaza is unconscionable. We must urge an immediate ceasefire. The killing of Palestinians and Israelis must end.”

“We must also take a hard look at nearly $4 billion a year in military aid to Israel. It is illegal for U.S. aid to support human rights violations,” he added.

The US administration has signaled support to Israel’s right to protect itself from Hamas attacks while calling for an immediate cease-fire. Though congressional Republicans are unanimous in their support for the job, Democrats are split on Washington’s support for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

“Israel has a right to defend itself when you have thousands of rockets flying into your territory,” Biden said last week.

Steeve Strange

Steeve is the CEO & Co-Founder of The Scoop.
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