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2026-09-17 10:44:12
[US House Democrats Publicly Shelve $2.8 Billion Bomb Sale to Israel, Rare Public Opposition] (1) On Wednesday, House Foreign Affairs Committee ranking Democrat Meeks publicly announced the shelving of the Trump administration's plan to sell 40,000 one-ton bombs to Israel, worth $2.8 billion. (2) Meeks stated that he still supports Israel's security and self-defense, but is concerned about the large number of deaths and civilian risks caused by the wars in Gaza against Hamas and Lebanon against Hezbollah, and therefore will not approve the sale at present. This decision does not weaken Congress's support for Israel's legitimate defense, but reflects Congress's need to ensure that US-aided weapons are used legally and responsibly. (3) Such opposition is usually carried out behind the scenes, and Meeks's public stance is rare, reflecting the Democratic Party's dissatisfaction with the Trump and Netanyahu administrations. Senior members of Congress are usually notified by the State Department and can informally shelve the sale to obtain information; the State Department usually respects this, but the Trump administration ignored Meeks's opposition and proceeded with a partial arms sale in February 2025. (4) According to The Washington Post, the weapon package included 40,000 2,000 bombs (20,000 MK-84s and 20,000 BLU-117s) and 20,000 I2000 penetrating warheads. The MK-84 could create a crater 50 feet wide and 36 feet deep, penetrate 15 inches of metal or 11 feet of concrete, and project fragments up to 400 yards.
