Biden bypasses Congress for second emergency weapons sale to Israel
The Biden administration approved an emergency weapons sale to the Israel military on Friday without Congressional review.
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Secretary of State Antony Blinken announced Friday the State Department had approved over $140 million in emergency weapons sales to Israel. (Getty)
The Biden administration bypassed Congress for a second time to provide emergency weapons to Israeli Defense Forces in Gaza.
Citing the “urgency of Israel’s defensive needs," the State Department approved approximately $147.5 million in weapons and equipment sales to Israel on Friday.
“Given the urgency of Israel’s defensive needs, the secretary notified Congress that he had exercised his delegated authority to determine an emergency existed necessitating the immediate approval of the transfer,” the department said.
The designation as an emergency sale allows the administration to bypass normal Congressional review procedures. The department made a similar decision on Dec. 9.
“The United States is committed to the security of Israel, and it is vital to U.S. national interests to ensure Israel is able to defend itself against the threats it faces,” it said.
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The Biden administration experienced a tumultuous 2023 that saw the U.S. backing two foreign conflicts while China started to push for a new world order. But it wasn’t all a disaster, according to some analysts.
Joel Rubin, a former State Department official, summed up the past 12 months as "a really hard year for the globe" with "a lot of conflict, a lot of war." He argued President Biden’s year has been far from abysmal, and he applauded the administration’s effort to try and take a more hands-on approach to foreign policy.
"We try to be proactive and to prevent conflict and crisis," Rubin said. "Most often than not, we are in a position like any country would be dealing with events as they are."
Other experts were not so kind, calling Biden’s policy "an utter failure" when it came to Russia and Ukraine or arguing that Biden’s approach to the Middle East has only "emboldened" enemies.
"The Biden administration foreign policy has basically set the world on fire," Rebekah Koffler, a senior military intelligence analyst, argued. "We have two wars going on right now … that could escalate at any point.
"Why is this all happening? Because Team Biden has exhibited complete incompetence when it comes to foreign policy," she claimed, insisting that the administration has "pushed all of the adversaries together … and they all smell blood."
Lisa Daftari, a Middle East expert and editor-in-chief of The Foreign Desk, labeled the Biden administration’s foreign policy "abysmal and very damaging" with a reliance on deterrence that happened "after the fact."
"It’s no coincidence that our enemies … have been flexing their muscles and will continue to do so, playing out the clock for the last year of the Biden presidency," Daftari said. She added that the administration is "trying their best in terms of trying to limit or de-escalate" conflicts in the Middle East but ridiculed the White House for trying to "micromanage Israel’s response to an existential threat."
Fox News' Peter Aitken contributed to this report.
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American forces stationed around the globe had a busy year in 2023, deploying to numerous countries to reassure allies and continuing the decades-long fight against international terrorism.
The year kicked off with a major military drill in Israel, with U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) and the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) partnering for the largest bilateral show of force in the history of the alliance between the two countries.
The drill, dubbed Juniper Oak, was a "Combined Joint All-Domain exercise," according to CENTCOM Commander Gen. Michael "Erik" Kurilla, an exercise that allowed the two allies to improve their "interoperability on land, in the air, at sea, in space, and in cyberspace with our partners, enhances our ability to respond to contingencies, and underscores our commitment to the Middle East."
CENTCOM contributed about 6,400 personnel to the drill, spreading members between up to 10 Israeli bases and operating six American ships at sea. Israel deployed more than 1,000 soldiers to the drill, including another six ships and aircraft that included F-35s, F-16s, F-15s, G550 reconnaissance aircraft, Boeing 707 refueling aircraft, UAVs and helicopters.
"The exercise demonstrates the indisputable strategic partnership between Israel and the United States and is another step in building Israeli military power," Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said of the drill. "Israel will always defend itself on its own, but of course welcomes the intensifying cooperation with our great ally."
Fox News' Michael Lee contributed to this report.
The Peace Palace, home of the International Court of Justice, in the Hague, Netherlands. (AP Photo/Mike Corder)
South Africa has filed a case with the United Nation's International Court of Justice claiming Israel is committing a genocide in Gaza.
South Africa has accused Israel of violating obligations of the Genocide Convention, arguing that “acts and omissions by Israel […] are genocidal in character, as they are committed with the requisite specific intent […] to destroy Palestinians in Gaza."
The Israeli government reacted harshly to the accusations, calling South Africa's assertions tantamount to "blood libel."
“Israel is committed to international law and acts in accordance with it, and directs its military efforts only against the Hamas terrorist organization and the other terrorist organizations cooperating with Hamas,” Israeli officials rebutted in their statement.
Israeli foreign ministers called the statement a "despicable and contemptuous exploitation" of the UN court.
An Israeli tank and other military vehicles are seen near the Israel-Gaza border. (Reuters/Evelyn Hockstein)
The Israeli Defense Forces are disputing claims from the United Nations that military forces are bottlenecking the distribution of resources in Gaza.
The United Nations is claiming Israeli occupying forces have been the primary obstruction to rendering aid to the civilian population of Gaza.
"As the [United Nations] keeps making excuses for the failure to deliver critical aid to the people of Gaza, we suggest they contact World Food Programme logistic cluster," said the Coordination of Government Activities in the Territories (COGAT) on Saturday.
COGAT claims a survey of logistic reports "confirms 12 of the 13 aid bottlenecks depends on the UN."
COGAT is an office of the Israeli Ministry of Defense that coordinates action between the IDF, international bodies, and the Palestinian authorities to address civilian issues.
"The UN needs to be part of the solution," COGAT added.
Israeli tanks and other military vehicles move inside the Gaza Strip, as seen from Israel, on Sunday. (Reuters/Evelyn Hockstein)
The Israeli Defense Forces did not have a plan in place for a terrorist attack on the magnitude of Oct. 7, according to a report from the New York Times.
Over 1,200 people were killed during the unprecedented attack, but the Israeli military's response was notably staggered and sluggish.
“There was no defense plan for a surprise attack,” former Deputy Head of the IDF's Gaza Division Amir Avivi told the outlet.
The report claims the IDF failed to adequately grasp the scale and severity of the Oct. 7 attack as it unfolded, failing to respond efficiently and properly allocate soldiers.
Former national security adviser Yaakov Amidror said, “The army does not prepare itself for things it thinks are impossible.”
The report also pointed to Hama's attack on the IDF base in Re'im as a major factor in the invasion's success. As terrorists raided the compound, IDF combatants were forced to aim their attention on defending the base and could not respond to other attacks in the region.
A dog handling member of the municipal police stands with his dog during an anti-counterfeiting operation at the Saint-Ouen flea market, in northern Paris. (Photo by THOMAS SAMSON / AFP) (Photo by THOMAS SAMSON/AFP via Getty Images)
French law enforcement and intelligence agencies are tightening security all across the country ahead of New Year's Eve.
French Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin warned Friday of a “very high terrorist threat” caused by "what is happening in Israel and Palestine."
A tourist was killed earlier this month in a knife attack near the Eiffel Tower, heightening concerns about public safety in Paris.
A New Year's Eve celebration is expected to draw thousands as the city prepares to host the 2024 Olympics. Dancing, fireworks, and live entertainment is expected at the year-end celebration.
Police will be using patrol drones as part of their security infrastructure, while approximately 5,000 soldiers will be mobilized.
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