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AtlanticAug 17
US Approves $20B of Arms Sales to Israel
Above: An Israeli air force F-15 fighter jet lands at the Hatzerim air base, on March 30, 2009. Image copyright: Uriel Sinai/Stringer/Getty Images News via Getty Images
The Facts
The US approved $20B of arms sales to Israel, the State Department announced on Tuesday.
The package includes as many as 50 F-15 fighter jets, 30 Advanced Medium Range Air-to-Air Missiles, in addition to a number of tactical vehicles and munitions for tanks and mortars. Congress was notified of the sale.
The Spin
Pro-establishment narrative
The US is a committed ally of Israel and it is in the interests of the US to maintain Israel's strong national defense capabilities, particularly at a time when there are fears of a new regional conflict.
Establishment-critical narrative
Despite Israel's many violations of international law, America's rewarding of Israel with this weapons package sends all the wrong signals. It only encourages further criminality and stokes the fires of an already-tense political situation.