Prime Minister Netanyahu Reveals Foreign Minister Blinken Ensures US Will Lift Restrictions On Arms Delivery To Israel

US Foreign Minister Blinken met PM Netanyahu last week. (Twitter/@SecBlinken)

JAKARTA - Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Tuesday US Secretary of State Antony Blinken had assured him President Joe Biden's administration was working to lift restrictions on arms shipments to Israel.

In a rare disclosure of high-level diplomatic conversations that are usually private, PM Netanyahu said when he met Foreign Minister Blinken in Israel last week, he told him it was "absurd" in recent months Washington "holding weapons and ammunition" for Israel.

"Israel, America's closest ally, is fighting for its life, fighting against Iran and our common enemy," Prime Minister Netanyahu said, adding Foreign Minister Blinken assured him the government was working "afternoon and evening" to remove those obstacles. June 19.

President Biden's administration in May stopped shipping 2,000 pounds and 500 pounds of bombs for fear of an impact in densely populated areas, but Israel will still get billions of dollars worth of US weapons.

Meanwhile, speaking at a news conference in Washington, Foreign Minister Blinken repeatedly refused to elaborate on his discussions with PM Netanyahu or confirm whether he had given the guarantee to the Israeli leader.

He said the shipment of weapons, except for one containing a large bomb, went as usual considering Israel faces security threats outside Gaza, including from Hezbollah and Iran.

"We, as you know, continue to review one shipment that President Biden has discussed regarding the 2,000-pound bomb because of our concerns about its use in densely populated areas, such as Rafah. It is still under review," said Foreign Minister Blinken.

"But all other things are going as usual, and once again with a perspective to ensure that Israel has what it needs to defend itself from these various challenges," he added.

President Biden warned Israel in April that Washington would stop supplying weapons if Israeli forces carried out a massive invasion of Rafah, a city full of refugees in southern Gaza.

Days later, Israeli forces began the attack on Rafah, saying Hamas militants were hiding there and reaffirmed that eliminating Hamas and bringing back hostages was Israel's main goal.

Washington did not describe the Israeli attack as a major military operation and therefore did not follow up on its ultimatum.