Israel Expects U.S. Arms Shipment Hold-Up Will Be Resolved Soon

Latest Developments

On June 23, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu predicted an imminent end to what Israel has described as a slowdown of U.S. munitions supplies to Israel. During a cabinet meeting, Netanyahu referenced a “dramatic decrease in the munitions coming to Israel from the U.S.” that he says began about four months ago, and he noted, “In light of what I have heard over the past 24 hours, I hope and believe that this issue will be resolved in the near future.” The Biden administration has generally dismissed allegations that it imposed what could amount to an undeclared U.S. arms embargo on Israel, amid increased public disagreements over Israel’s Gaza War strategy.

Netanyahu’s statement followed Israeli Minister of Strategic Affairs Ron Dermer and Israeli National Security Adviser Tzachi Hanegbi’s June 20 meetings in Washington, D.C. Also, the office of Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant stated he was heading to the U.S. capital on June 23 to meet with senior U.S. government officials in order to “raise the unique areas of cooperation between the U.S. and Israeli defense establishments, with an emphasis on force build-up efforts and power projection, while maintaining Israel’s qualitative edge in the region.” Gallant added, “We are prepared for any action that may be required in Gaza, Lebanon, and in additional areas,” referencing Israel’s war on Hamas, spiraling cross-border aerial attacks by Hezbollah from Lebanon, and Israeli retaliation against those attacks.

Expert Analysis

“By Israel’s telling, this largely unpublished crisis in U.S.-Israel relations began building around February, after Israel had ended major operations in Gaza. It appears that the Biden administration took this as an opportunity to cease expediting defense exports to the Israelis while pressuring them for a ‘day after’ Gaza vision. If so, the Biden administration’s gambit may have backfired by undermining Israel’s military readiness exactly when Hezbollah stepped up its provocations, in an attempt to save Hamas from Israel’s final mopping-up operations.” — Mark Dubowitz, FDD CEO

“Hezbollah and Iran already have a perception that Israel is unable to wage an all-out war due to a lack of U.S. military and political support. By shining a public light on what the enemy already knows to be true, Netanyahu has prompted a wave of U.S. statements and commitments which are critical as Hezbollah continues to escalate.” — Richard Goldberg, FDD Senior Advisor

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