'Israel' seeks arms purchase from allies, excludes US: Israeli media
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According to Walla, the Israeli Security Ministry estimates the Biden administration is unaware of the extent of the crisis related to the arms shipments delay.
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155mm M795 artillery projectiles are stacked during the manufacturing process at the Scranton Army Ammunition Plant in Scranton, Pa., on Thursday, April 13, 2023. (AP)
The director general of the Israeli Security Ministry, Major General (Res.) Eyal Zamir, directed the purchase of ammunition and weapons from "Israel's" allies, excluding the United States, the Israeli news website Walla reported.
According to the outlet, the move aims to expand the strategic independence of the Israeli army by increasing ammunition production lines and seeking solutions for precision missiles and bombs.
Security officials told Walla that all major military industries are working within their respective fields to expand production lines based on orders and planning with the Israeli Security Ministry.
This comes after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu accused the US in a video statement earlier this week of "withholding weapons and ammunitions to Israel." In response, US officials said they were not aware of what the Israeli premier was referring to, and White House National Security Communications Advisor John Kirby said Netanyahu's remarks were "perplexing to say the least, certainly disappointing."
Israeli Security Minister Yoav Gallant is in Washington to meet with senior American officials, in an aim to resolve disagreements between the two allies, particularly the delay in US arms shipments to "Israel".
According to Walla, the Israeli Security Ministry estimates that US President Joe Biden and Pentagon chief Lloyd Austin are unaware of the extent of the crisis related to the arms shipments delay.
The Israeli news website added that the delay is due to senior staff within the Biden administration.
Walla revealed that at the beginning of the war, Gallant had successfully halted a very large US ammunition shipment that was initially destined for the Ukrainian army after the Israeli minister explained the security situation in "Israel" and the state of its ammunition stocks to the US administration, which then redirected the shipment to the Israeli army.
The outlet suggested that the Israeli army was not prepared for several months of fighting on multiple fronts simultaneously.
Read more: 400+ arms shipments arrived in 'Israel' since war began: Israeli media
