US official fiercely denies PM’s charge that administration is delaying arms shipments

The Biden administration fiercely denies Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s latest claim that it has been delaying weapon shipments to Israel.

“Other than the shipment of 2,000-pound bombs, there is no policy delay or hold on anything. There’s just not,” a US official tells The Times of Israel.

In a speech to the Israeli public moments ago explaining his decision to agree to a ceasefire with Hezbollah, one of the chief reasons that Netanyahu argued in favor of the deal is because it allows Israel to replenish arms stockpiles.

“It is no secret: there have been major delays in the supply of weapons and ammunition. This delay is about to be released soon,” Netanyahu said — this time without naming the Biden administration.

Hebrew media reports in recent days have quoted unnamed Netanyahu associates claiming that the Biden administration pledged to release withheld weapon shipments in exchange for Israel agreeing to a ceasefire in Lebanon. Other aides to the premier have highlighted that the return of Donald Trump to the White House will also ensure an end to the delay of weapon shipments, which has repeatedly been denied by the US.

The Biden administration insists that it has only withheld one shipment of high payload bombs since May over concern that Israel would use them in densely populated areas, leading to the deaths of large numbers of civilians.