U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken assured Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of lifting restrictions on arms supplies to Israel, as Washington nears a deal to sell F-15 fighter jets as part of a major arms package, according to media reports.
According to Israeli Channel 12, Netanyahu urged for the renewal and expansion of U.S. arms supplies to Israel, which had recently halted. Blinken pledged to remove the imposed restrictions within days.
During their meeting, Netanyahu stated that “unlike the significant aid provided by the United States to Israel at the beginning of the conflict, the situation has changed recently, with the United States effectively halting arms shipments to its ally Israel amid the ongoing war” against Gaza since October 7th last year.
As reported by the Israeli channel, Netanyahu emphasized to Blinken that Israel will continue its war on Gaza “in any case, and with available means, even if U.S. arms shipments to Israel are not renewed.”
Netanyahu argued that “withholding arms from Israel provides support to Iran and its allies, Hezbollah and Hamas, thus prolonging the duration of the war and increasing the likelihood of its expansion to other fronts.”
Meanwhile, Netanyahu tasked Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, Strategic Affairs Minister Ron Dermer, and National Security Council Chief Tzachi Hanegbi with ensuring, during their meetings with their American counterparts in the coming days, that arms supplies will indeed be renewed promptly.
