Biden Administration, Approves Another $20 Billion In Military Weapons To Israel

Image credit, Military_Material

The Biden Administration’s recent approval of a substantial $20 billion military arms sale to Israel marks yet another troubling chapter in the ongoing conflict between Israel and Gaza. This deal, which includes the delivery of 50 Boeing F-15IA fighter jets, upgrades to Israel’s existing fleet of F-15s, tanks, surface-to-air missiles, and millions of rounds of ammunition, can only be described as a full-scale “war in a box.” The timing of this sale is particularly egregious, coming on the heels of Israel’s use of a U.S.-supplied 2,000-pound bomb to obliterate a school in Gaza, killing over a hundred people, the majority of whom were children.

This decision represents another disastrous move by the Biden Administration, which claims to desire peace while continuously providing the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) with the means to wage war. The IDF has a history of using these weapons to bomb indiscriminately, targeting women, children, schools, hospitals, and museums, in its attempt to rid the ideology of Hamas. For the IDF, nothing is off the table; there are no red lines. If any exist, they are invisible, and the IDF crosses them with impunity, knowing the United States will turn a blind eye.

As the November elections approach, the consequences of this arms sale may extend beyond the immediate violence in Gaza. President Biden’s decision has the potential to cost Harris politically, especially in battleground states like Michigan, which is home to a significant Arab and Muslim community. The unwavering support for Israel, fueled by campaign contributions, could lead to a loss in Michigan and ultimately hand the presidency to the Republicans.

Vice President Kamala Harris, who is now the Democratic frontrunner for the nomination, finds herself in a precarious position. Despite her recent rhetoric about the massacres in Gaza, her pledge of unwavering support for Israel puts her campaign in a vicarious position. This decision undermines her credibility and could hinder her chances of election as President, especially as public opinion in key battleground states begins to shift.

The world is watching America closely. Apart from its G7 partners, few believe that the Biden Administration’s actions in Gaza are justified. President Biden can call for peace with one hand, but as long as he continues to send billions in lethal munitions to a tyrannical, warmongering Netanyahu, his words ring hollow. Netanyahu’s actions—bombing schools, hospitals, nursing homes, and museums—will continue without red lines, knowing the U.S. will not intervene.

Americans must demand a change to the military-industrial complex that perpetuates these atrocities. The time has come to hold leaders accountable for their complicity in the devastation of Gaza and to recognize that endless war is not the answer. The future of the United States’ global standing, and indeed its moral compass, depends on it.