President Barack Obama has used the completion of a new agreement to provide $US38 billion in military aid to prod Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu about a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
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As per the MoU, the US commits to providing Israel USD 38 billion in military aid over ten years, including USD 33 billion (over Rs 2.20 lakh crore) in foreign military financing funds and an unprecedented commitment of USD 5 billion for missile defence.
The deal, the largest such agreement the USA has ever had with any country, amounts to $3.8 billion a year beginning in budget year 2019, compared with $3.1 billion the US gave Israel annually under the current 10-year deal that expires in 2018.
“The new 10-year MoU on security (from fiscal year 2019 to 2028) assistance that his Administration signed with the Government of Israel is just the most recent reflection of my steadfast commitment to the security of the State of Israel”, Obama added.
Graham also said give Israel more money would be a great way to “send a signal to the ayatollahs” in Iran, and that whenever the Iranian government does something the United States doesn’t like they should expect more money to be sent to Israel. Under the previous arrangement, Congress approved funds for Israel’s “Iron Dome” missile defense system separately and on an annual basis.
This additional funding will, among other things, allow Israel to update the lion’s share of its fighter aircraft fleet, including the acquisition of additional F-35s and F-15s.
The deal, whose details were reported by Reuters earlier, will allow Washington’s chief Middle East ally to upgrade most of its fighter aircraft, improve its ground forces’ mobility and strengthen its missile defense systems, a senior USA official said. Some years, it has even declined, she 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 US officials.
Obama touted the pledge as proof that the United States is Israel’s greatest “friend”.
“We don’t have any plans to do anything particularly dramatic at this point”, she said.
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On Friday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu triggered worldwide criticism after he accused the Palestinian leadership of supporting an “ethnic cleansing” of Jews in the West Bank due to their objection to the settlements.
