The United States and Israel signed a memorandum of understanding on Wednesday that sets for the terms of American aid to the Jewish state worth about $3.8 billion each year from 2019 through 2028.
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“This agreement demonstrates the simple truth that the relationship between Israel and the USA 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 United States has ever given out to any nation”. “Just hours before the House overwhelmingly approved this bill, we welcomed the announcement that the USA and Israel agreed to terms of a renewed, robust Memorandum of Understanding”.
Nevertheless, the alliance-“iron-clad” in the words of US National Security Advisor Susan Rice – remains, despite or perhaps even in part because of Obama’s need to prove his feud with Netanyahu has no strategic effect.
As a Member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, Blumenthal has raised the need to renew the MOU with Israel numerous times during committee hearings by directly engaging Secretary of Defense Ash Carter.
“For as long as the state of Israel has existed, the United States has been Israel’s greatest friend and partner, a fact underscored again today”, Obama said.
Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., a critic of the memorandum of understanding (MOU) between the two allies, called it important but slammed a provision that would limit Israel from seeking additional funds from the USA except in times of war.
“No other administration has done more for Israel’s security”, Rice said.
“The MOU is not binding on Congress”.
Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC) has blasted the deal for shortchanging Israel and sidestepping Congress.
“As Iran develops its missile threat, let’s push back”. “They do not impact the great friendship between Israel and the US, friendship that is evidenced in this agreement that will greatly help in forging Israel’s power in the coming decade”. Part of the annual $3.8 billion in assistance, $500 million, will support Israeli missile defense.
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 officials observed that the almost 10 months of drawn-out aid negotiations underscored continuing friction between President Barack Obama and Netanyahu over last year’s. In March, Trump said he would make Israel pay for defense aid. “He may prefer her over Obama, but he’s now put himself into this very hard position where he’s been seen as supporting Republicans for the past eight years”, Dr. Chasek tells The Christian Science Monitor in a phone interview.
“Changes that are happening in the region are happening rapidly”, Schanzer said.
Washington added a new provision to the deal that requires all of the funds to be spent on American military industries which was one of the sticking points of the negotiations because Israel wanted to spend some of the money internally on Israeli military technology.
Power said the USA shares Ban’s views on rising Israeli-Palestinian tensions and urges all parties to “exercise restraint, refrain from provocative actions and rhetoric”.
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United Nations secretary-general Ban Ki-moon on Thursday lambasted a video released by Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu video last Friday as an “unacceptable and outrageous” portrayal of people who oppose Israeli settlements in the West Bank.
