US fast-tracks $295m arms deal to Israel, bypassing congressional review

The US government has approved a $295 million arms deal with Israel, authorising the sale of Caterpillar D9 bulldozers and related equipment. The deal was fast-tracked through an emergency authorisation by the secretary of state, bypassing the standard Congressional review process.

The package includes D9R and D9T bulldozers, along with spare parts, maintenance and logistical support.

According to the Defence Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA), the package covers spare and repair parts, corrosion protection, technical documentation, pre-delivery inspections, US government and contractor assistance, as well as storage and other logistical and programme support elements. Deliveries are set to begin in 2027.

The emergency approval was issued under Section 36(b) of the Arms Export Control Act. The State Department justified the move, stating that “an emergency exists that requires the immediate sale to the Government of Israel of the above defence articles and defence services in the national security interests of the United States.”

Moreover, the DSCA emphasised that the sale aligns with US strategic interests in the region, reaffirming Washington’s commitment to Israel’s security. “The United States is committed to the security of Israel, and it is vital to US national interests to assist Israel to develop and maintain a strong and ready self-defence capability,” the agency stated.

According to the DSCA, the deal is expected to bolster Israel’s ability to safeguard its borders, protect key infrastructure and defend population centres. The agency also claimed that the sale would not disrupt the military balance in the region.

The US faces criticism for providing military aid to Israel, as more than 48,500 Palestinians, mostly women and children, have been killed in the Gaza Strip in the occupation state’s genocidal bombing campaign on the enclave which began on 7 October 2023.

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According to the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI), the US supplied 69 per cent of Israel’s arms from 2019 to 2023, which increased to 78 per cent by December 2023.

By December 2023, the US had delivered over 10,000 tonnes of weapons worth $2.4 billion.

This number grew to 50,000 tonnes by August 2024, transported via hundreds of planes and ships.

As Israel’s strongest ally, Washington has supplied a wide range of advanced military equipment, including missiles for the Iron Dome defence system, precision-guided bombs, CH-53 heavy lift helicopters, AH-64 Apache helicopters, and 155mm artillery shells, along with bunker-busting munitions and armoured vehicles.

Since 1946, the US has provided over $310 billion in military and economic aid to Israel, adjusted for inflation, according to the American think tank, Council on Foreign Relations.

A ten-year $38 billion military aid deal signed in 2016 remains in effect.

Emergency packages in 2024 added billions more, including $14.1 billion approved in February and a $2.5 billion arms shipment in March.

Several human rights groups, former State Department officials and Democratic lawmakers have urged the previous US administration to halt arms transfers to Israel, citing violations of US laws, including the Leahy Law, as well as international laws and human rights. Israel denies these allegations.

The Leahy Law, named after former Senator Patrick Leahy, requires the US to withhold military assistance from foreign military or law enforcement units if there is credible evidence of human rights violations.

By 2024, the US had authorised over 100 arms deals for Israel, supporting its missile systems and replenishing stockpiles, despite ongoing scrutiny over the impact on civilian populations in Gaza.

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