Pentagon plans to renew sale of arms to Israel

The Pentagon said it planned to renew arms sales to Israel with the shipment of 200 Sidewinder air-to-air missiles. A department spokesman gave no reason for the resumption of arms sales, valued at $16 million, but said it would be the first since Israel's invasion of Lebanon last June. But US officials said the administration remained unhappy with Israeli policies in Lebanon and elsewhere. The Pentagon also plans to sell to Saudi Arabia $265 million worth of spare parts and electronic equipment. Both sales will proceed unless vetoed by Congress within 30 days.