From the Liveblog of
Saturday, December 30, 2023
Democratic senator blasts Biden for bypassing congressional review of arms sale to Israel
Jacob Magid is The Times of Israel's US bureau chief
A dovish Democratic senator slams the Biden administration for bypassing congressional review to fast-track a weapons shipment to Israel.
“Congressional review is a critical step for examining any large arms sale,” says Sen. Chris Van Hollen of Maryland.
“The administration’s decision to repeatedly short-circuit what is already a quick time frame for congressional review undermines transparency and weakens accountability. The public deserves answers,” Van Hollen adds.
The statement comes a day after US Secretary of State Antony Blinken waived congressional review, determining that an emergency exists that required the immediate sale to Israel of 155-millimeter artillery shells and related equipment worth $147.5 million.
Blinken used the same emergency authority to fast-track the $106 million sale of some 14,000 tank shells to Israel on December 9.
