Top U.S. general says not all of Israel's weapon requests fulfilled

General Brown stated that Israel has not received all requested weapons from the US, due to capacity or willingness constraints. US-Israel relations face criticism and scrutiny.

Concerns Over U.S. Weapon Support to Israel

April 30, 2022

Israel's Unmet Requests

General Charles Q. Brown, the chairman of the U.S. Joint Chiefs of Staff, stated on Thursday that Israel has not been granted all the weapons it has requested. This is attributed to the Biden administration's reluctance to provide at least some of the requested arms. The annual military assistance to Israel from the United States amounts to $3.8 billion. Despite the rush of air defenses and munitions to Israel, the Biden administration's steadfast support of Israel has been criticized by some Democrats and Arab American groups.

Reasons Behind Unmet Requests

General Brown clarified, "Although we've been supporting them with capability, they've not received everything they've asked for. Some of that is because they've asked for stuff that we either don't have the capacity to provide or not willing to provide, not right now."

Recent Conflict Statistics

More than 32,000 Palestinians have been reported killed in the Gaza Strip during Israel's recent offensive. The attack was initiated in response to an attack by the militant group Hamas, resulting in 1,200 deaths and 253 abductions, according to Israeli tallies. This offensive has led to opposition from within the Democratic Party, with thousands voting "uncommitted" for President Biden in recent party presidential primaries.

On-Going Dialogue

U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin held discussions with Israel Defense Minister Yoav Gallant in Washington regarding security assistance to Israel earlier this week. General Brown emphasized that maintaining a constant dialogue with Israel is essential.