Netanyahu urges US lawmakers for emergency military assistance

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Agencies
17 Nov 2023 19:30
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Netanyahu made a specific request for the replenishment of Iron Dome missile defense interceptors, precision-guided weapons, and 155 mm artillery shells.

An Israeli mobile artillery unit fires a shell from southern occupied towards the Gaza Strip, Monday, Nov. 06, 2023 (AP Photo)

A week ago, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu appealed to visiting US lawmakers, urging them to expedite emergency military assistance for "Israel", a request currently stalled due to political deadlock in Washington, Punchbowl news reported on Friday.

"Prime Minister Netanyahu said, 'I need ammo, ammo and ammo – yesterday,'" House Foreign Affairs Committee Chair Mike McCaul told Punchbowl News.

As part of a bipartisan delegation, McCaul, who was visiting, said "It’s urgent, and it needs to happen soon. They were a little anxious, but we reassured them that this was going to pass. It’s just going through a political process."

Netanyahu made a specific request for the replenishment of Iron Dome missile defense interceptors, precision-guided weapons, and 155 mm artillery shells, the report noted.

The stopgap fund excludes aid to "Israel"

On Tuesday, the House approved a stopgap funding measure to avert a government shutdown, and this legislation will proceed to the Senate.

As per the bill, programs such as transport and energy will receive funding until January 19, while other sectors will receive funding by February 2.

Meanwhile, assistance to "Israel" and Ukraine was not included.

On another note, discussions to connect funding for both "Israel" and Ukraine have encountered a standstill, primarily due to disagreements over border security issues.

The policy shift from Ukraine to "Israel"

Last Friday, Israeli media revealed information about the US redirecting tens of thousands of artillery shells to "Israel" after they had prepared them for the war in Ukraine.

According to the Israeli newspaper Yedioth Ahronoth, an American ship "unloaded tens of thousands of 155 mm shells," noting that this shipment of shells is intended to support "Israel" in its war on the Gaza Strip and also in Lebanon.

The newspaper pointed out that the occupation unloaded a cargo ship carrying about 2,500 tons of military equipment sent to the Israeli occupation army - around 170 containers - and that the equipment was loaded onto hundreds of trucks and transported to military units.

The cut in funds for Ukraine comes amid the passing of a recent $14.3bn aid bill to "Israel", despite warnings against the bill. The Republican measure was approved by 226-196, including 12 Democrats and two rejected Republican votes.