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Wednesday, June 26, 2024
Despite declared progress, US official says withheld heavy bombs shipment to remain on hold
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Despite Defense Minister Yoav Gallant declaring “significant progress” in resolving the US weapons holdup issue, an American official tells The Times of Israel that the one shipment of heavy bombs that has been withheld will remain on hold for the time being.
Gallant’s statement appears to be referring to progress in resolving a larger slowdown of arms transfers beyond the one publicly confirmed freeze.
Meanwhile, Channel 12 news reports, without citing a source, that the Biden administration reportedly conveyed a message today to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu that the shipment of heavy bombs it has been holding up will not be fully transferred to Israel even after the IDF operation in Gaza’s Rafah concludes, due to American distrust of the premier and anger at his making the spat public.
The report claims that the White House fears Netanyahu will use the munitions to open a new war front in the north with Hezbollah. In an attempt to appease the US, Israel has reportedly promised — in exchange for continued weapons supplies — to exhaust all diplomatic avenues before launching a full-blown war in Lebanon, and to use US arms in a “measured” way.
The Times of Israel Community.