US-Israel Assault Rifles: The US government has agreed to sell over 20,000 American-made assault rifles to Israel. This decision came last month under former President Donald Trump’s administration. The sale was delayed earlier by President Joe Biden’s team because of worries that the guns might end up with extremist Israeli settlers.
According to official documents, the State Department informed Congress about the $24 million deal on March 6. The rifles will go to the Israeli National Police.
While this sale is small compared to the billions of dollars in weapons the U.S. sends to Israel, it became controversial. The Biden administration had paused it last year, fearing the rifles could be used by settlers who have attacked Palestinians in the West Bank. The US even punished some settlers and groups accused of violence in the area.
When Trump returned to office on January 20, he immediately canceled US sanctions on Israeli settlers. His administration has since approved many big weapons deals for Israel.
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The March 6 notice to Congress said the U.S. government considered “political, military, economic, human rights, and arms control concerns.” The State Department did not answer when asked if Israel gave any promises about how the rifles would be used, reported by ET.
Growing Violence
Israel took control of the West Bank in the 1967 war. Palestinians want this land for their future independent country, but Israel has built settlements there, which most countries say are illegal. Israel disagrees, saying the land has historical and religious importance.
Attacks by settlers on Palestinians were already increasing before the Gaza war started. The violence has gotten worse since the war began over a year ago.
Trump has a strong relationship with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. He has promised full support for Israel’s war against Hamas in Gaza. His administration has moved forward with weapons sales despite some Democratic lawmakers asking to delay them.
Just last week, the US senate rejected an attempt to stop $8.8 billion in arms sales to Israel. The vote was 82-15 against blocking the deal. Senator Bernie Sanders, an independent who works with Democrats, had proposed the move over human rights concerns.
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Why the Rifle Sale Was Delayed?
The rifle sale was paused after Democratic lawmakers demanded more details on how Israel would use the weapons. Congress later approved the deal, but the Biden administration kept it on hold.
The current conflict between Israel and Hamas began on October 7, 2023, when Hamas fighters attacked Israeli towns, killing 1,200 people and taking more than 250 hostages. Israel’s military response has killed over 50,000 Palestinians, according to Gaza health officials.
Israel’s National Security Minister, Itamar Ben-Gvir, a far-right leader in Netanyahu’s government, controls the police force. In November 2023, “The Times of Israel” reported that his ministry focused heavily on “arming civilian security squads” after the October 7 attacks.
