In a move that ended an unofficial arms export ban, the administration has approved an Israeli purchase of Mk-84 general purpose air bombs, Middle East Newsline reported.

The Tritonal bombs were requested by Israel as early as September 2006, but blocked by the White House and State Department amid what officials said was an effort to improve U.S. relations with the Arab world.

"The administration has decided to respond to several Israeli requests, and this is related to U.S. plans to sell weapons to Saudi Arabia and other Gulf countries," a congressional source close to the administration said. "It's a clear quid pro quo."

On April 20, the Defense Security Cooperation Agency notified Congress of a possible sale of the Mk-84 to Israel. The Defense Department agency said the proposed deal, expected to be approved by Congress, could reach $65 million.

Officials said the planned sale was meant to replenish Israel Air Force weapons depleted during the Hizbullah war, which ended in August 2006. They said the air force spent virtually its entire Mk-84 as well as smart munitions arsenal during the 34-day war.

"Israel's strategic position makes it vital to United States' interests throughout the Middle East," the agency said. "It is vital to the U.S. national interest to assist Israel in developing and maintaining a strong and ready self-defense capability."

The last time the administration announced a proposed military sale to Israel was on July 14, 2006. The announcement, two days after the start of the Lebanon war, was meant to supply Israel with JP-8 aviation jet fuel worth up to $210 million.

The prime contractor of the proposed Mk-84 sale would be General Dynamics, based in Garland, Texas. The Pentagon agency said the sale did not contain offsets.

"Implementation of this sale will not require the assignment of any additional U.S. government personnel in-country," the agency said. "There will be no adverse impact on U.S. defense readiness as a result of this proposed sale."

Officials said the State Department also opposed arms sales to Israel in wake of the Lebanon war. On Jan. 29, the department said Israel "likely" violated its pledge against firing U.S.-origin cluster bombs toward civilian communities. No sanctions were announced.

The Pentagon announcement of a proposed arms sale came in wake of the visit to Israel by U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates. During his 24-hour visit, Gates urged Israeli leaders not to oppose an estimated $10 billion sale of F-15s, F-16s, main battle tanks and advanced air munitions to Saudi Arabia and other Gulf Cooperation Council states.

Officials said Israel does not plan to formally object to the GCC arms request. They said the government of Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert has accepted the administration's position that the advanced U.S. weapons were meant to help protect Gulf Arab allies from Iran.

"We need to look at the circumstances in terms of the overall strategic environment and in terms of the concerns of other neighbors -- more Iran perhaps than Israel," Gates said on April 19 after his talks in Israel. "So I made it pretty clear that there are alternatives for their neighbors in terms of sophisticated weapons."