Henrico Times

Today, Congressman Rob Wittman, vice chairman of the House Armed Services Committee, together with 37 other lawmakers, sent a letter to U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken, urging the expedited delivery of Foreign Military Sales (FMS) and Foreign Military Financing (FMF) aid to Israel. The letter emphasizes the importance of supporting Israel in response to the recent attack carried out by Hamas terrorists and the ongoing threat of Iranian support for terrorist groups in the Middle East.

The lawmakers state, "Israel requires our unequivocal support as they respond to the unconscionable attack carried out by Hamas terrorists. Israel must urgently strengthen their ability to deter Iran's dedicated support for terrorist groups across the Middle East—which we know extends directly to Hamas and Hezbollah."

The letter also highlights the commitment of Congress to work with Secretary Blinken to take bipartisan and urgent action to bolster the security of Israel in the near-term. However, the lawmakers recognize that the threats to Israel will persist and emphasize the need to improve the ability to deliver military aid when it is needed most.

In addition to Congressman Wittman, the letter was signed by several other lawmakers including Rep. Robert Aderholt, Rep. Mark Alford, Rep. Don Bacon, Rep. Jim Banks, and Rep. Elise Stefanik, among others.

The lawmakers refer to the 10-year Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on military aid signed between the U.S. and Israel in 2016, which pledges $38 billion in military aid to Israel, the largest MOU between the two countries since 1999. Under this MOU, Congress authorized $520 million for joint US-Israel defense programs in the annual National Defense Authorization Act for fiscal year 2023.

U.S. military aid to Israel includes various weapons systems and missile defense programs. The letter highlights the importance of platforms such as combat aircraft like the F-35, the CH-53K heavy lift helicopter, and the KC-46A multirole tanker. The lawmakers also emphasize the need for expedited delivery of approved sales and weapons transfers to Israel to enhance its ability to counter Iranian aggression.

The letter acknowledges that the FMS process of the U.S. is not currently ready to meet the challenges presented by adversaries such as China, Russia, Iran, and the terrorist and proxy groups they support. The lawmakers call on the State Department and Defense Department to expedite the provisioning of FMS cases for Israel and make improvements to the process.

In conclusion, the letter urges Secretary Blinken to take specific actions to shorten the timelines for the delivery of FMS cases to Israel, address industrial capacity shortfalls, and identify any new impediments that may impact the ability to expedite the delivery of defense articles or services to Israel in the next 12 months.

Congressman Wittman and the other lawmakers are committed to working with Secretary Blinken to ensure the security of Israel and strengthen the U.S.-Israel partnership. The urgent need to expedite military aid to Israel reflects the ongoing threats faced by the country and the importance of supporting its defense capabilities.

To learn more, click on this link: https://wittman.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=5280