The US government has approved a $295 million arms deal with Israel, authorising the sale of Caterpillar D9 bulldozers and related equipment. The deal was fast-tracked through an emergency authorisation by the secretary of state, bypassing the standard Congressional review process.

The emergency approval was issued under Section 36(b) of the Arms Export Control Act. The State Department justified the move, stating that “an emergency exists that requires the immediate sale to the Government of Israel of the above defence articles and defence services in the national security interests of the United States.”