The United States State Department has approved the sale of $147.5 million worth of equipment to Israel, bypassing Congress in an emergency determination due to the urgency of Israel's defensive needs. This is the second time this month that the Biden administration has approved an emergency weapons sale to Israel, in support of their war against Hamas in Gaza. The sale is likely to be met with criticism from those who oppose the Biden administration's support of Israel, but is also seen as a sign of the administration's commitment to Israel's security.
Posts tagged as “the state Department of Administration”
The US State Department has approved an emergency sale of nearly 14,000 rounds of tank ammunition to Israel, worth more than $106 million, circumventing Congress. This is part of a long-standing trend of US arms sales to Israel, and is intended to support Israel's military operations in the southern Gaza Strip. Congress has the opportunity to block the sale, though it is unlikely to do so.
Key takeaways: Ukraine is facing a difficult winter as its counteroffensive against Russian forces fizzles and the world’s attention shifts. Four men in Washington are…
Government employees have expressed unprecedented levels of dissent in response to the conflict in the Gaza Strip, with Senator Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) calling for new conditions on a package of billions of dollars in aid for Israel. Aaron David Miller of the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace has commented on the remarkable scope of the dissent, and it remains to be seen how Congress will respond.
Secretary of State Antony Blinken visited the West Bank to meet with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and discuss the need for a lasting ceasefire and humanitarian aid in the Gaza Strip. His visit came just hours after an Israeli airstrike killed 40 people in a refugee camp, and he condemned the attack and urged both sides to de-escalate the conflict. Blinken pledged to work with the international community to ensure that humanitarian aid reaches those in need and expressed his condolences for the civilian casualties in Gaza.
The U.S. Department of State has issued a worldwide caution alert due to the ongoing Israel-Hamas war, recommending that U.S. citizens in Lebanon make plans to depart as soon as possible. The State Department is warning of a heightened potential for violence and is urging U.S. citizens to exercise caution when traveling overseas. The conflict has resulted in the deaths of over 200 people, including at least 58 children.
President Joe Biden has expressed shock and horror at the violence of the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas, with reports of toddlers and babies found decapitated. He has called for an immediate ceasefire and is sending experts to "advise and assist" in the conflict, as well as working to free American hostages, with the death toll of US citizens now at 22.
A man was arrested for openly carrying a firearm in the Wisconsin Capitol while demanding to see Governor Tony Evers. He was released on bail later that night, but was found to be carrying an assault rifle upon his return. The Capitol police officer was able to prevent the man from entering the suite of rooms and he is now facing charges for his actions.