Gregory Meeks, the top Democrat on the House foreign affairs committee, has refused to clear a $2.8bn US arms sale of 2,000lb bombs to Israel, citing concerns over the threat to civilian lives, according to the Guardian.
Key facts
- Gregory Meeks, the top Democrat on the House foreign affairs committee, announced the hold on Tuesday.
- The sale is valued at $2.8bn and involves 40,000 of the 2,000lb (one-ton) bombs.
- The munitions are described by the Guardian as among the most destructive conventional weapons in the US arsenal.
- Meeks, who is described as pro-Israel, raised concerns over the threat to civilian lives.
- The transfer would be one of the largest US arms sales of Trump's second term.
The top Democrat on the House foreign affairs committee has thrown up a roadblock to one of the largest US arms transfers of President Donald Trump’s second term, refusing to clear a $2.8bn sale of 2,000lb bombs to Israel, according to the Guardian.
Gregory Meeks announced the hold on Tuesday on a package of 40,000 of the bombs, which the Guardian described as among the most destructive conventional munitions in the US arsenal.
Meeks, who is described as pro-Israel, raised concerns over the threat to civilian lives posed by the package of 40,000 one-ton bombs.
The 2,000lb bombs at the centre of the deal are, according to the Guardian, among the most destructive conventional munitions in the US arsenal, and the scale of the proposed transfer places it among the largest arms sales pursued during Trump’s current term in office.
As the senior Democrat on the House foreign affairs committee, Meeks holds a position that allows him to place a hold on such transfers, creating an obstacle for the administration as it seeks to move the sale forward.
Why it matters
Arms sales of this scale shape US foreign policy and Washington's role in ongoing conflicts. A hold from a senior lawmaker, even one described as a traditional ally of Israel, points to divisions within the political establishment over weapons transfers to the country.
Frequently asked questions
Who is blocking the arms sale to Israel?
Gregory Meeks, the top Democrat on the House foreign affairs committee, announced a hold on the sale on Tuesday, according to the Guardian.
What weapons are included in the sale?
The $2.8bn package includes 40,000 of the 2,000lb (one-ton) bombs, described by the Guardian as among the most destructive conventional munitions in the US arsenal.
Why is Meeks objecting to the sale?
Meeks, who is described as pro-Israel, raised concerns over the threat to civilian lives posed by the package of bombs.