US President Donald Trump has requested that Congress approve nearly $6 billion of US-made weapons to Israel, people familiar with the matter said on Friday.
The equipment and weapons include attack helicopters and troop carriers.
Among the equipment is a $3.8b. deal for 30 Boeing AH-64 Apache helicopters, which would double Israel’s current supply.
The Trump administration is also seeking approval for a $1.9b. deal for 3,250 infantry assault vehicles for the IDF.
Another $750 million worth of support parts for armored personnel carriers and power supplies are also working their way through the sale process, one of the people said.
Recognizing a Palestinian state
The news of the proposed sale came days before world leaders were set to gather in New York for the annual United Nations General Assembly next week, where the UN Security Council is also due to hold a high-level meeting on Gaza.
The Republican president’s full-throated support for Israel’s military contrasts with growing wariness about Israel’s assault on Gaza among Democrats.
On Thursday, a group of US senators introduced the first Senate resolution to urge recognition of a Palestinian state, and more than half of Democrats in the Senate recently voted against further arms sales.