Unnamed sources said two key congressional Democrats had agreed to back a major arms sale to Israel involving 50 F-15 fighters worth over $18bn, according to Washington Post on Monday.
After having held up the sale for months, representative Gregory Meeks and senator Ben Cardin have signed off on the deal under intense pressure from the Biden administration, as per the post.
According to Eric Harris, Communication Director for Senate Foreign Relations Committee,” any issues or concerns Chair Cardin had were addressed through our ongoing consultations with (Biden) Administration and that’s why he felt it appropriate to allow this case to move forward,”
Meeks added in his conversation with the newspaper that he had been in constant touch with White House and urged them on exerting pressure on Israel concerning its humanitarian actions and innocent civilian lives lost to it. He is quoted by Washington Post as saying that delivery of F-15 will take place “years from now.”
There was no immediate response by either legislator’s office when contacted for comment.
Joe Biden has faced growing calls from within his own party over his unwavering support for Israel despite an eight month long offensive on Gaza which has seen more than 37 thousand Palestinians killed and almost the entire population of 2.3 million displaced.
Biden has urged both sides fighting in Gaza Strip conflicts to agree upon a ceasefire.
