Leading Senate Democrat calls on Biden to explain latest weapons transfer to Israel 

US Senator Tim Kaine of Virginia called on the Biden administration to explain why it has twice moved to transfer weapons to Israel without congressional oversight. 

The US sold an estimated $147.5m of weapons under an emergency clause requiring the immediate sale of munitions. 

"Just as Congress has a crucial role to play in all matters of war and peace, Congress should have full visibility over the weapons we transfer to any other nation," said Kaine who serves on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee and the Senate Armed Services Committee.

"Unnecessarily bypassing Congress means keeping the American people in the dark. We need a public explanation of the rationale behind this decision - the second such decision this month," added the senator.

The earlier decision Kaine referred to was a $106.5 million sale of 14,000 rounds of tank ammunition, which the Biden administration also bypassed congressional oversight to send.

Kaine was Hillary Clinton's running mate in 2016.