Netanyahu thanks Biden for weapons sale as Israel postures for longer war
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the war in Gaza will go on for "many more months" and thanked President Biden for the latest sale of U.S. weapons to Israel on Sunday. Biden skirted Congress to make the sale late last week. Israel's campaign against Hamas in southern Gaza continues at an unrelenting pace.
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Biden bypasses Congress for second emergency weapons sale to Israel
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.
U.S. Navy Helicopters sank three of four Iran-backed Houthi rebel boats attacking a merchant vessel in the Red Sea on Sunday.
"On Dec. 31 at 6:30am (Sanaa time) the container ship MAERSK HANGZHOU issued a second distress call in less than 24 hours reporting being under attack by four Iranian-backed Houthi small boats. The small boats, originating from Houthi-controlled areas in Yemen, fired crew served and small arms weapons at the MAERSK HANGZHOU, getting to within 20 meters of the vessel, and attempted to board the vessel. A contract embarked security team on the MAERSK HANZGHOU returned fire. U.S. helicopters from the USS EISENHOWER (CVN 69) and GRAVELY (DDG 107) responded to the distress call and in the process of issuing verbal calls to the small boats, the small boats fired upon the U.S. helicopters with crew served weapons and small arms. The U.S. Navy helicopters returned fire in self-defense, sinking three of the four small boats, and killing the crews. The fourth boat fled the area. There was no damage to U.S. personnel or equipment," The U.S. military said in a statement.
Netanyahu says Israel's war in Gaza will last 'many more months'
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu declared that Israel's war in Gaza will last "many more months" on Sunday, shirking pressure from Western allies, including the U.S.
Netanyahu said Israel's goal of "absolute victory" requires more time, with Hamas still active in Southern Gaza and even in northern Gaza. Israel has yet to capture Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar and other members of Hamas' top leadership.
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