US to send 20,000 assault rifles to Israel after Biden delay

The United States is set to supply Israel with more than 20,000 assault rifles, a sale that was delayed under President Joe Biden’s administration over concerns they could be used by extremist Israeli settlers.

The transaction, valued at $24 million, was advanced by the Trump administration last month, despite the Biden administration’s previous hesitation due to the potential misuse of these weapons by settlers accused of violence against Palestinians in the West Bank, Caliber.Az reports via Israeli media.

On March 6, the US State Department notified Congress of the sale, specifying that the rifles would be used by the Israeli National Police. 

While this transaction is small compared to the billions in military aid the US sends to Israel annually, it drew attention due to its connection to Israeli settlers, some of whom have been implicated in attacks on Palestinians in the occupied West Bank.

The Biden administration had initially put a hold on the sale, citing concerns over the rifles’ potential use by extremist settlers, and further delayed approval until Congress approved the deal. The US has also imposed sanctions on individuals and entities involved in settler violence in the West Bank.

The Biden administration clarified that the only remaining hold involved a shipment of bombs it feared could be used in populated areas, risking civilian casualties.

Despite the hold, the sale ultimately went ahead after some Democratic lawmakers raised objections. The decision comes as Israel’s far-right National Security Minister, Itamar Ben-Gvir, under Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's government, has emphasised arming civilian security squads in response to the escalation of violence following the October 7 onslaught.

The US government took into account various factors, including political, military, and human rights considerations, when approving the sale, although it did not clarify whether any assurances were sought from Israel on the intended use of the rifles.

By Aghakazim Guliyev