The United States and Israel have agreed on a record US$38 billion (S$52 billion) package of USA military aid and were due to sign the new pact yesterday, enshrining defence funding for Washington’s closest Middle East ally for the next decade, officials said.
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It’s important to remember that this aid largely benefits the US defense industry and the Israeli occupation, but not the average Israeli.
The agreement concludes many months of negotiations that involved a delicate calculation by Israel about whether to strike a deal with the outgoing USA president.
It will make “a significant contribution to Israel’s security in what remains a unsafe neighborhood”, Obama said. Israel can continue to ask for more money for “cyber defense” as well as tunnel warfare.
National Security Adviser Susan Rice said the package was good for the U.S.as well.
The new MOU is expected to be signed in a ceremony Wednesday in Washington.
A new pact now allows him to avoid uncertainties surrounding the next president, whether Democrat Hillary Clinton or Republican Donald Trump, and to give Israel’s defense establishment the ability to plan ahead.
“For as long as the state of Israel has existed, the United States has been Israel’s greatest friend and partner, a fact underscored again today”, he said in a statement.
“While I think the agreement is important and deserving of respect, I have also made it very clear that Congress is not a party to this agreement nor is this agreement binding on future Congresses”, he said in a statement Tuesday.
“As Iran develops its missile threat, let’s push back”.
In recent weeks Washington has toughened its criticism of Israel’s accelerated building of settlements on occupied land in East Jerusalem and the West Bank, warning that it could destroy hopes for peace with the Palestinians.
Earlier the agreement was of $31 billion over 10 years according to which USA is giving $3.1 billion every year and this deal will expire in 2018 and then today’s signed deal will come in action.
The total includes $33 billion in foreign military financing funds – which is money used to buy materiel and ammunition – as well as $5 billion in missile defense funding. The payouts according to deal will begin in year 2019 and United States will fund $3.8 billion every year.
That represents a significant increase over the 3.1 billion dollars the United States gives annually now, a figure that rises to about 3.5 billion a year with aid supplements approved by Congress. “I think the Israelis are confused, I think they’re nervous”.
Ten years ago there was no Arab Spring, no Syrian civil war and no Islamic State, he said.
“Changes that are happening in the region are happening rapidly”, Schanzer said.
It will eventually require all MOU funds to contribute to American military industries.
The pact also ends US aid to the Israeli military for fuel purchases – a high ticket item. “It demonstrates America’s strong and unwavering commitment to Israel”. Yet Graham can take political swipes at the administration by chastising it for trying to tie the countries’ hands going forward, and as an end-around to Congress’ authority to approve budgets and appropriations.
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“Nothing in the (agreement) is binding”, he said.
