US Secretary of State Antony Blinken has approved a Foreign Military Sale (FMS) to Israel of 13,981 120 mm M830A1 High Explosive Anti-Tank Multi-Purpose with Tracer (MPAT) tank rounds and related equipment, the US Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) announced on 9 December 2023.
The tanks ammunition, which would come direct from the US Army inventory, are worth an estimated USD 106.5 M (EUR 97M). The DSCA delivered the required certification notifying Congress of the possible sale on 8 December.
Noting that this sale of tank ammunition to Israel would be prioritised in light of Israel’s war in Gaza following the Hamas terror attack on Israel on 7 October, the DSCA stated, “The Secretary of State determined and provided detailed justification to Congress that an emergency exists that requires the immediate sale to the government of Israel of the above defense articles and services in the national security interests of the United States, thereby waiving the Congressional review requirements under Section 36(b) of the Arms Export Control Act, as amended”.
While Blinken has travelled to Israel several times to argue for humanitarian pauses in the fighting and the protection of Palestinian citizens, the DSCA notification of this sale stated, “The United States is committed to the security of Israel, and it is vital to US national interests to assist Israel to develop and maintain a strong and ready self-defense capability. This proposed sale is consistent with those objectives. Israel will use the enhanced capability as a deterrent to regional threats and to strengthen its homeland defense.”
