No other country that receives USA military aid is permitted to use the funds to purchase from non-U.S. firms. Washington has been committed to providing the Middle East ally with “qualitative military edge” in order to preserve the country’s security in a region full of antagonistic powers.
Advertisement
But Obama also used the occasion to press for Israel and the Palestinians to return to the negotiating table in search of a resolution to their decades-old conflict. But to get this deal, Israel had to accept some pretty strict caveats.
During the nine months of negotiations that led to the military aid agreement, Netanyahu’s aides were concerned that completing the deal might embolden Obama to go ahead with such a move, which the prime minister strongly opposes.
Recommended: How much do you know about Israel?
The United States and Israel have signed a new aid deal that will give the Israeli military $38 billion over the course of 10 years.
Durbin was more upbeat on the MOU.
“The agreement will increase security assistance to Israel from $3.1 billion to $3.8 billion per year”. Israel had initially requested $5 billion a year, but that figure was quickly shelved by USA negotiators.
Nagel said that the “generous” package provided to Israel “is not taken for granted” and that he avoiding describing talks with the administration as “negotiations”, saying that this assistance was a gift, and the two sides were engaged in talks about the terms of the gift.
The United States and Israel are set to ink on Wednesday a landmark 10-year, $38 billion military aid deal that will be a boon for USA arms manufacturers.
The record-breaking deal – reportedly of at least $38bn (about £28bn) – is expected to be signed later on Wednesday at a ceremony at the State Department in Washington. “As a Clinton, she’s not inclined to put Bibi in a corner”. The American President’s statement following the deal may only stoke the fire further. Mr. Obama, for his part, will get a chance to prove his commitment to the U.S. ally. “They don’t influence our great friendship”, Netanyahu said.
Mr Obama’s relationship with Mr Netanyahu has been tense for years, and ties between the countries worsened significantly when the United States and world powers struck the nuclear deal with Iran.
Missile defence The new package will incorporate, for the first time, money for missile defence projects which hitherto have been drawn from funds directly from Congress – American legislators had transferred up to $600 million for Israeli missile defence projects over recent years.
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. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., said in a statement.
Advertisement
Emma Dumain is The Post and Courier’s Washington correspondent.
