The agreement states the military aid for Israel which comprises a commitment to give $38 bn over 10 years.
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The historic MOU is unusual in many respects.
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. But it includes $500 million for missile defense, to replace up to $700 million that Congress had previously approved for Israeli missile defense systems in recent spending bills.
The MOU creates a fixed amount, not subject to renegotiation during the 10-year period.
It remains to be seen how much support there is in Congress for this new bill, despite Graham’s confidence, and numerous usual lobbyists for such aid may fear that its passing so soon after the Obama deal would hurt Israel’s credibility, after promising not to lobby for such funds.
The White House confirmed the terms of the deal on Wednesday and the signing will occur during a special ceremony at the State Department. “As a Clinton, she’s not inclined to put Bibi in a corner”.
Obama’s aides want a new deal before his presidency ends, seeing it as an important part of his legacy. Mr. Obama, for his part, will get a chance to prove his commitment to the United States ally.
Some critics faulted details of the agreement, which they said will hurt Israel’s ability to ask for more assistance in emergencies or as security conditions change.
This increase in aid comes as the Benjamin Netanyahu-led Israeli government, which took office in 2008, has vastly expanded the network of illegal settlements deep into the Palestinian territories in East Jerusalem and the West Bank. Mr Netanyahu requested a significant increase to $4.5 billion per year on account of the Iran nuclear agreement, but was forced to settle for $3.8 billion. Obama’s support of the Iranian negotiations, has drawn harsh criticism from many Israeli officials as well as US Republicans. This would keep Congress from giving more money than President Obama intends in the deal.
Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), chairman of the Senate appropriations subcommittee that manages the foreign affairs budget, told me he was informed of the unusual arrangement by the Israelis and White House Chief of Staff Denis McDonough. “It is a level of antagonism against Israel that I can’t understand”.
Israel has also agreed not to lobby Congress for additional money.
“As I have said repeatedly, America’s commitment to Israel’s security is unshakeable”.
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As I said before, they pay lip service to global law, they pay lip service to the rule of law; but once the question of Israel is trampling over worldwide law and the principal of human rights, they simply turn a blind eye to it. “We are proud that no other administration has done so much to enhance Israel’s security”.
