Biden Admin Resumes Assault Rifle Sales to Israel

The Biden administration has authorized the sale of over 20,000 assault rifles to Israel, a transaction initially delayed due to concerns about potential misuse by extremist Israeli settlers in the West Bank. The $24 million deal, originally pursued by the Trump administration, was formally notified to Congress on March 6th, with the stated end user being the Israeli National Police.

While a relatively small transaction compared to the billions in overall US military aid to Israel, the sale drew scrutiny due to the Biden administration’s earlier hesitation. Concerns centered on the possibility that the weapons could fall into the hands of settlers who have been implicated in escalating violence against Palestinians in the occupied West Bank. The administration had previously imposed sanctions on individuals and entities linked to such violence, a reversal of Trump’s policy of rescinding sanctions on settlers.

The State Department has not publicly disclosed whether it received assurances from Israel regarding the intended use of the rifles. The decision to proceed with the sale comes amidst a broader pattern of US support for Israel, including the recent overwhelming rejection by the Senate of resolutions seeking to block an $8.8 billion arms sale. Senator Bernie Sanders spearheaded the effort to halt the larger sale, citing human rights concerns.

The context of this arms transfer is critical. Israel has occupied the West Bank since 1967, and the expansion of settlements is widely considered illegal under international law – a position Israel disputes. Settler violence has been on the rise, particularly since the October 7th Hamas attack on Israel and the subsequent conflict in Gaza.

The timing is also noteworthy, as Israel’s far-right National Security Minister, Itamar Ben-Gvir, who oversees the police force, has reportedly prioritized arming civilian security squads. This raises further questions about the ultimate destination and use of these weapons.

This situation highlights the complex dynamic of US-Israel relations and the ongoing challenges of balancing security concerns with human rights considerations in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. While the US maintains a strong commitment to Israel’s security, the administration faces increasing pressure to ensure that American-supplied weapons are not used to exacerbate violence or contribute to the perpetuation of the occupation. The decision to approve this rifle sale, despite initial reservations, suggests a prioritization of maintaining the existing security relationship, even in the face of legitimate concerns about potential misuse and the escalating humanitarian crisis in Gaza and the West Bank.