The United States and Israel have signed a new aid deal that will give the Israeli military 38 billion dollars (£28.6 billion) over the course of 10 years. “Israel’s safety and security is a top foreign and national security priority for the U.S. Now that the MoU has been finalized, it is important for Congress to conduct its oversight authority and examine the MoU closely in order to ensure that this agreement is mutually beneficial and meets the needs of both the U.S. and Israel”.
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White House National Security Advisor Susan Rice hailed the agreement.
He said that both countries were confident that the new MoU would make a significant contribution to Israel’s security in what remained a unsafe neighbourhood.
In this September 11, 2016 file-pool photo, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu gestures as he opens the weekly cabinet meeting at his Jerusalem office.
Netanyahu didn’t get everything he wanted in the military deal: He had to agree that Israel wouldn’t lobby Congress for additional missile defense funds, as well as allowing the phasing out of an agreement that had allowed Israel to prioritize its own defense industry when spending the aid money, rather than buying from American companies.
The agreement also eliminates Israel’s ability to spend a fraction of the funds on fuel for its military.
The $38-bilion aid will allow Israel, America’s main ally in the Middle East, to upgrade its defences with new fleet of fighter aircraft, a more agile ground force and a stronger missile shield, senior U.S. officials said.
In a statement after the deal was signed in a formal ceremony at the State Department, the president said it underscored the United States’ status as “Israel’s greatest friend and partner”.
The US has agreed a 10-year deal with Israel which will see it deliver $3.8 billion a year in military aid.
The U.S. government signed a memorandum of understanding Wednesday.
By taking this deal, he has a chance to “bury the hatchet” with President Obama and the Democrats, as well as secure a historically large amount of funding from the United States.
The new U.S. -Israel deal also includes, for the first time, funding for missile defense programs.
Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton welcomed the new security assistance deal as sending a clear message to the region and the world that the U.S.
“With these funds, Israel will be able to modernize and better equip its armed forces”, the group said in a statement. The agreement also includes $5 billion in joint missile defense spending which will significantly advance Israel’s defensive capabilities as well as technology that benefits USA defense.
The settlements are considered illegal under worldwide law and major obstacles to peace as they are built on land the Palestinians see as part of their future state.
Obama’s support of the Iranian negotiations, has drawn harsh criticism from many Israeli officials as well as US Republicans.
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In a video address last week he claimed that Palestinian critics of the settlements support the “ethnic cleansing” of Jews, comments Washington deemed “inappropriate”.
