Politics US government approves billion-euro arms deal with Israel
The US government has approved large-scale arms sales to Israel.
13.08.2024, 23:23
SDA
According to the US State Department, Congress has been informed about the upcoming sale of armaments worth more than 20 billion US dollars (around 18 billion euros). This includes more than 50 F-15 fighter aircraft, tank ammunition and tactical military vehicles.
The fulfillment of such contracts by the arms industry is a process that takes years - for example, the delivery of tank ammunition is not scheduled to begin until 2027 and that of fighter aircraft until 2029. This is therefore about the long-term equipping of the Israeli military, not its equipment in Israel's current conflict with Hamas in the Gaza Strip.
The USA is Israel's most important protecting power. However, relations between the two countries are strained in view of Israel's military action in the Gaza Strip - and in particular because of the high number of civilian casualties and the humanitarian catastrophe in the conflict area. For the US government under President Joe Biden, the handling of military aid for Israel is a domestic political balancing act. Critics are calling for more transparency about how US weapons are used by Israel and whether international humanitarian law is being observed.
