Major Arms Deal Between America and Israel

The Washington Post reported, citing three unnamed officials, that two senior Democratic members of the U.S. Congress approved a major arms deal for Israel that includes 50 F-15 fighter jets worth over $18 billion. The newspaper noted that Representative Gregory Meeks and Senator Ben Cardin signed off on the deal under significant pressure from the Biden administration after the lawmakers delayed the sale for several months. Eric Harris, director of communications for the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, stated in a comment to the newspaper, "All the problems and concerns raised by the committee chairman Cardin were addressed through our ongoing consultations with the administration, which is why he felt it was appropriate to allow this matter to move forward." Meeks told the Washington Post that he is in close contact with the White House and is urging them to press Israel on humanitarian efforts and civilian casualties. The newspaper reported him saying that the F-15 planes will not be delivered for "years to come." Pressure is mounting on Biden from members of his Democratic Party due to his unwavering support for Israel amid its ongoing eight-month assault on Gaza, which has resulted in the deaths of over 37,000 Palestinians and the displacement of approximately 2.3 million people. Biden is urging both sides of the conflict to reach a ceasefire.