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Washington, D.C. — House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Michael McCaul sent a letter to President Joe Biden urging him to advance long delayed weapons sales to Israel amid increasing threats from Iran and its terrorist proxies, including Hamas, Hezbollah, and the Houthis. The letter specifically highlights the urgent need for the Biden-Harris administration to advance the 2,000-pound bombs purchased by Israel via Foreign Military Financing and at least ten additional cases purchased via Direct Commercial Sale.

“Last week, Israel used a number of 2,000-pound bomb variants to successfully eliminate arch-terrorist and mass murderer Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah and other top Hezbollah leaders. You rightly called this strike a ‘measure of justice.’ We all wish Israel did not need these larger bombs, but they are operationally necessary as Israel’s enemies, including Hamas and Hezbollah, are intentionally using deeply buried subterranean bunkers and tunnels. I call on you to allow these weapons, which are ready to ship, to be sent to Israel immediately.”

The full text of the letter can be found below:

Dear President Biden,

Our close friend and ally Israel has faced a multi-front war against Iran and its proxies since October 7, 2023: from Hamas in Gaza; Hezbollah in Lebanon; the Houthis in Yemen; Iranian-backed militias in Iraq and Syria and even from Iran itself. This week, Iran launched around 200 ballistic missiles at Israel, Iran’s second direct attack on Israel in six months.

As Chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, I sign off on all major weapons sales and my committee has jurisdiction over global arms sales policy.  I, along with Members of Congress from both parties, have previously raised serious concerns about your Administration’s unacceptable, politically motivated delays of weapons shipments to Israel.

While the Administration has recently moved some previously delayed major weapons packages to Israel, you are now delaying other vitally important arms exports, including 2,000-pound bombs held since the spring. These weapons are part of a package that I personally signed off on, and were paid for with congressionally appropriated funds. It was reported the Administration had halted this shipment due to concerns over an Israeli operation in Rafah; while the Rafah operation has concluded, the shipment is still blocked.

Israel continues to face unprecedented threats from Iran and its terrorist proxies, including Hezbollah in Lebanon, which has fired at Israel almost daily since October 8, causing civilian casualties and displacing over 60,000 Israeli civilians. Last week, Israel used a number of 2,000-pound bomb variants to successfully eliminate arch-terrorist and mass murderer Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah and other top Hezbollah leaders. You rightly called this strike a “measure of justice.” We all wish Israel did not need these larger bombs, but they are operationally necessary as Israel’s enemies, including Hamas and Hezbollah, are intentionally using deeply buried subterranean bunkers and tunnels. I call on you to allow these weapons, which are ready to ship, to be sent to Israel immediately.

I am also aware of more than ten other weapons cases purchased via Direct Commercial Sale (DCS) that have experienced unusual, unexplained delays. Under National Security Presidential Directive-56, State was directed to complete the review and adjudication of license applications within 60 days of receipt. However, these cases have been awaiting final approval for an average of over four months. It is clearly not the case that “everything else is moving in due course,” as unnamed State Department officials have claimed.

The Administration has consistently said its support for Israel is “ironclad.” We must fulfill this commitment both to protect Israel’s security and to demonstrate our credibility as a reliable defense partner. Returning to normal processing and delivery timelines with respect to arms sales is urgently needed to compete against Russia and China. I urge you to act today to ensure all weapons shipments to Israel, including 2,000-pound bombs, are expedited to support our ally.

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