Ahead of the signing ceremony, leader of the Kulanu party and Finance Minister Moshe Kahlon praised the agreement: “Israeli civilians must be grateful to the American government for the largest ever military assistance deal signed between Israel and its most important ally, the United States”, said Kahlon.
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“This agreement demonstrates the simple truth that the relationship between Israel and the United States is strong and powerful”, Netanyahu said on Wednesday, as quoted by The Times of Israel, stressing that the deal “is the largest military aid package the U.S. has ever given out to any nation”.
In a statement, President Barack Obama said: “America’s commitment to Israel’s security is unshakeable”.
He said that both countries were confident that the new MoU would make a significant contribution to Israel’s security in what remained a risky neighbourhood.
At the signing ceremony, national security adviser Susan Rice said the deal is proof of the “unbreakable bond” between the United States and Israel.
Obama said in a statement that the 38 billion dollar Israel aid package was to help ensure security. He added that “Israel does not take the military aid package for granted”, saying it “will enable Israel to better defend itself, by itself”.
Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., a critic of the memorandum of understanding between the two allies, called it important but slammed a provision that would limit Israel from seeking additional US funds except in times of war. “They [the administration] can make a recommendation of what we expect to give to Israel, but Congress makes the final decision”. “To suggest this MOU will bind future presidents and congresses for the next decade is constitutionally flawed and impractical”.
Graham, however, has seen the glass as half (or more) empty, preferring to chastise the administration for trying to limit how much Congress could choose to spend in the future for Israeli aid.
“As Iran develops its missile threat, let’s push back”.
However, the agreement angered pro-Palestinian groups, who said the United States should not reward Israel with unprecedented aid despite its settlement-building in the disputed West Bank.
They disclosed that the package included Israel’s promise not to seek additional funds from Congress beyond what would be guaranteed annually in the new package. In March of previous year, then-House Speaker John Boehner invited Netanyahu to address Congress to criticize the upcoming Iran nuclear deal without notifying the USA president.
The funds will be disbursed in equal amounts of $3.3 million to purchase goods and services, and $500 million a year dedicated to Israel’s missile defense systems, which protect the small nation from possible attacks by militant groups Hezbollah in Lebanon and Hamas in the Gaza Strip.
“We obviously strongly disagree with the characterisation that those who oppose settlement activity or view it as an obstacle to peace are somehow calling for ethnic cleansing of Jews from the West Bank”, she said.
“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.
“Changes that are happening in the region are happening rapidly”, Schanzer said.
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.
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“This doesn’t mean there are not disagreements from time to time, but these are disagreements within the family”, he said.
