The Israeli government agreed to a provision under the new 10-year U.S. -Israel security aid agreement that requires the Jewish state to return any money appropriated by Congress that exceeds levels set by President Obama.
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It “constitutes the single largest pledge of bilateral military assistance in USA history”, the State Department said in a statement.
Jacob Nagel, the Israeli prime minister’s national security adviser, signed off on the deal with his USA counterpart, Susan Rice, on Tuesday, and there was a formal signing ceremony at the State Department on Wednesday.
The new deal will succeed the current $30 billion (over Rs 2.03 lakh crore) deal signed in 2007, which expires at the end of fiscal year 2018.
According to the contract, the Jewish state no longer spend the money internally, but only on American industries, which means though the United States is helping Israel to bolster its military, the money handed out can not be used on products made in the country.
The deal also phases out the 26 percent of annual aid Israel was allowed to spend on its own defense contractors – now it has to buy from USA manufacturers. “No other Administration has done more for Israel’s security, and USA commitment to Israel will remain unshakeable”, Rice said. In another apparent concession, Israel has agreed not to ask Congress to approve more funds than are included in the deal unless a new war breaks out, according to USA officials.
“The use that Israel makes of this military hardware is to basically attack defenseless people in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank”, he added.
It will also lead to the elimination of a longstanding provision that has allowed Israel to use about 13 percent of the U.S. aid to buy military fuel. “This agreement demonstrates the simple truth that the relationship between Israel and the United States is strong and powerful”. “The $5 billion in missile defense funding will allow Israel to fully implement the multi-tier missile defense systems of Arrow 3 and David’s Sling”.
Washington has warned that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s policies – along with Palestinian violence – are putting at risk hopes of an eventual peace deal.
The agreement “forced Israel to think about the long-term capabilities they would like to have”, but a 10-year agreement is far too long, Schanzer said. “It reaffirms the depth and strength of the U.S. -Israel relationship – which is based on common security interests, shared values, and deep historical ties – and sends a clear message to the region and the world that we will always stand shoulder-to-shoulder with Israel”.
“On behalf of President Obama, we are all thinking of and praying for President Shimon Peres, Israel’s national treasure”, she said. Israel had initially requested $5 billion a year, but that figure was quickly shelved by USA negotiators.
In the previous 10-year aid deal, Israel could purchase up to 26 percent of its military hardware from Israeli suppliers.
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Relations have been sour between the two leaders since March 2015, when Mr Netanyahu appeared before US Congress to lobby against the Iran deal advocated by Mr Obama.
