The White House is urging Congress to approve an $18 billion sale of F-15 fighter jets to Israel this week, even as the Biden administration has ramped up criticism of Israeli airstrikes.
Biden’s State Department delivered notices to two Congressional committees asking them to begin the review process for the deal. In addition to selling more than 50 planes, the deal would also include munitions and training services, according to the New York Times.
U.S. officials, however, clarified to the outlet that the F-15s would not be delivered for at least another five years.
F-15 fighter jets already serve as the backbone of Israel’s air force. Israeli Defense Forces rely on them as a key deterrent against regional powers like Iran, and have also used them to carry out airstrikes in Gaza.
STATE DEPT. REACTS TO STAFFER’S PUBLIC RESIGNATION OVER ISRAEL OFFENSIVE IN GAZA
An Israeli Air Force F-15 fighter jet takes off during an air force pilots’ graduation ceremony at Hatzerim air base in southern Israel . (Reuters)
The deal comes as the Biden administration is growing increasingly critical of Israel’s airstrike campaign in Gaza. White House officials have urged Israel to minimize civilian casualties, and while Israel insists it is doing all it can, dissatisfaction from the White House continues.
HAMAS, IRAN LEADERS DELIGHT IN CEASE-FIRE CALL, US NO-VOTE: ‘FATEFUL TURNING POINT’
Those concerns surged earlier this week when an Israeli airstrike mistakenly killed seven aid workers in Gaza. The aid workers were there with the World Central Kitchen, an international group that works to address food crises.
The White House is urging Congress to approve an $18 billion sale of F-15 fighter jets to Israel this week, even as the Biden administration has ramped up criticism of Israeli airstrikes. (Chris Kleponis/CNP/Bloomberg via Getty Images)
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called the incident “tragic” in a statement on Tuesday, adding that Israel was investigating the…