US is sending munitions to Ukraine from stockpile earmarked for Israel’s emergency use

by Karen Faulkner, Worthy News Correspondent

(Worthy News) – The Biden administration has been sending to Ukraine munitions from a stockpile the US has kept in Israel, a stockpile that Israel itself would need to use in a time of war while giving no clear indication as to when that stockpile will be replenished, Israel Hayom reports.

The munitions have been sent to Ukraine to help it fight the ongoing invasion by Russia, but their depletion comes at a time of particular vulnerability for Israel in the Middle East: in addition to Israel’s ongoing conflict with the Palestinians and with Iran-backed Hezbollah, Saudi Arabia has conspicuously drawn closer to Iran and Syria, both of which are sworn enemies of Israel and are militarily supported by Russia.

“The understanding between Jerusalem and Washington over many decades has been that the munitions there would be earmarked for Israel in times of emergency, for example, if the Jewish state faces a major attack along the scale as the 1973 Yom Kippur War,” Israel Hayom explains in its report.

The fact that Washington has drawn down the munitions without a clear plan for replenishing the stockpile has raised concern for Israel’s safety. “These are Israel’s reserve stockpiles for times of war,” a former cabinet minister told Israel Hayom. “The move has had a bigger implication in light of the threats on Israel in multiple theaters.”

Former senior Israeli defense officials have told Israel Hayom that the Biden administration’s new priorities have had serious repercussions for Israel. “According to the officials, the administration’s actions vis-à-vis Saudi Arabia and the Gulf states have allowed Iran to continue building up capabilities, resulting in Sunni states restoring ties with Tehran, and have made China a much more powerful player in the region,” Israel Hayom said in its report.

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