Dems now angry over Biden administration’s transparency on arms transfers to Israel

Democratic lawmakers are frustrated with the Biden administration’s apparent lack of transparency about the types and amounts of weapons the US is sending to Israel, according to The Washington Post.

President Joe Biden’s Democratic allies in Congress have supported the practice 45 billion dollars in US arms and equipment sent to Ukraine since February 2022, which are often accompanied by fact sheets that break down the types and quantities of defense items transferred.

So far, the Pentagon’s transfers to Israel have been communicated in broad terms, prompting calls for greater transparency from Democrats, who are increasingly upset by the rising civilian death toll in Gaza, the Post reported. reported.

The Biden administration is seeking authority to skip its legal obligation to notify Congress in advance of planned foreign military financing deals with Israel “because of Israel’s urgent need,” according to the Post, citing a copy of the president’s request. The notification requirement applies to all countries participating in the State Department’s FMF program.

“I do not support the administration’s request to write exemptions from congressional notifications of foreign military financing, including for Israel,” Rep. Gregory Meeks, a Democrat on the Foreign Affairs Committee, told the Post of the Chamber. “There is no reason why we cannot ensure that needed US aid is provided to Israel in an expeditious manner and ensure that Congress can fulfill its duty of constitutional oversight.”

Congress may drag down arms sales and foreign funding, the Post reported.

The Pentagon announced deliveries of precision munitions, air defense, medical support and other equipment inside days of Israel declaring war on Hamas in retaliation for brutal terrorist attacks. deliveries flowed in Israel almost daily, the Pentagon saidmostly coming from already planned transshipments put on an accelerated track.

“As you know, we continue to provide assistance to Israel, virtually on a daily basis,” said Pentagon press secretary Brig. General Pat Ryder said in an information session on October 31. He declined to detail the cost, number or content of those transfers, citing operational security concerns and different policies and legal requirements governing assistance from Israel and Ukraine.

The White House said the waiver would “immediately provide emergency assistance to Israel rather than having to wait more than two weeks for congressional approval,” the Post reported.

Gaza’s Hamas-run health ministry has put the death toll in Gaza at 10,000, although U.S. State Department officials estimate it is likely even higher, according to the Post.

The terrorist group brutally murder An estimated 1,400 Israelis, mostly civilians, and took about 240 hostages.

“At a time when thousands of civilians are being killed by weapons provided by the US government, the American people deserve to be fully informed about what is being provided to other countries, including Israel, with their tax dollars.” , said Democratic Rep. Cori Bush. of Missouri told the Post. “The Biden administration should provide the same transparency about arms transfers to Israel that it has for Ukraine and other countries.”

NEWS: Ukraine’s defense package includes missiles and air defense https://t.co/b8VQYnSYmU

– Department of Defense (@DeptofDefense) November 4, 2023

At the same time, Democrats have largely rejected Republicans. calls for the ground weapons tracking in Ukraine, The Hill reported.

Biden he asked Congress for an additional $14 billion in security assistance for Israel as part of a $100 billion supplemental foreign aid request, the Post reported.

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