This bill seeks to block the sale of specific defense articles and services to Israel, including bombs, guidance kits, fuses, and related support.
Pramila Jayapal
Representative
WA-7
This bill aims to block the sale of specific defense articles and services to Israel, including bombs, guidance kits, fuzes, and related support equipment, as outlined in Transmittal No. 2413. The disapproval extends to both the direct military equipment and associated logistical and technical support.
US Arms Sale to Israel Blocked: Proposed Bill Nixes Bombs and Guidance Kits
This joint resolution flat-out prohibits a proposed sale of U.S. military gear to Israel. We're talking thousands of bombs, guidance kits, fuzes, and all the related support equipment – basically, the whole package detailed in Transmittal No. 2413 is off the table if this goes through.
Breaking Down the Bomb Ban
The bill specifically lists what's being blocked, and it's a lot. Items include 2,166 GBU-39B Small Diameter Bombs, 2,800 MK 82 500-pound bomb bodies, and over 17,000 Joint Direct Attack Munition (JDAM) Guidance Kits of various types (KMU556EB, KMU556HB, KMU557EB, KMU557FB, KMU572EB, KMU572FB, etc.). It also nixes 17,475 FMU152AB fuzes, plus a bunch of "non-MDE" items like FMU139 fuzes, bomb components, and support equipment. Think of it like this: if you ordered a fully loaded pizza, this bill would take away not just the pizza, but the box, the delivery car, and the driver's GPS.
Real-World Impact: Grounded Flights and Beyond?
This isn't just about stopping one shipment. It's about potentially limiting Israel's military capabilities, at least in the short term. For example, those JDAM kits turn "dumb" bombs into precision-guided munitions. Without them, you're looking at a significant change in how airstrikes could be conducted. Consider a construction worker who suddenly loses access to their power tools – they can still work, but it's going to be slower and potentially less precise. It's the same principle, but on a much larger, more impactful scale.
The Bigger Picture: Shifting Sands?
This bill, by directly blocking specific military aid, could signal a shift in the U.S.-Israel relationship. It is also important to remember that the U.S. gives Israel almost $4 billion dollars in military aid every year. While the resolution doesn't rewrite existing laws about military aid, it does set a precedent for potentially closer scrutiny of what gets sold and when. It also raises questions about how this might affect Israel's defense strategies and its ability to respond to threats. It's like changing the rules of the game mid-match – everyone involved needs to reassess their strategy.