Budget-strapped Israeli military banks on future US aid
Budget-strapped Israel is pressing the United States to conclude a deal extending defense aid beyond 2017, when Washington's current $3 billion annual payouts to its Middle East ally expire, officials said on Friday.
They said a swift agreement on future U.S. grants would help Israel's military draft a five-year austerity plan accommodating Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's conservative government.
"It's difficult to budget into 2018 and 2019 without knowing what funds will be available," an Israeli defense official said.
U.S. Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel will visit Israel next week and the future aid will probably be raised by his hosts, according to a different official who declined to be identified by name or nationality.
Read More: http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/05/09/us-israel-usa-defence-idUSBREA4807A20140509
Rice: Every $1 spent on Israel’s security is an investment
President Barack Obama’s security adviser said US investment in Israel’s defense shows it is committed to its security.
Susan Rice said Friday that the Obama administration and Israel recently signed an agreement for further US investment in its Iron Dome system.
The Iron Dome defends Israel against short-range rockets fired by militants in Gaza, Sinai and Lebanon. It detects the rockets and strikes them in midair.
Rice said that the new deal “will take our total investment in Iron Dome, which has saved countless of Israeli lives, to nearly $900 million, a sign of our continued commitment to Israel’s security.”
“Every American dollar spent on Israel’s security is an investment in protecting the many interests that our nations share. Whether that’s preventing rockets from terrorizing the Israeli people, defending against the growing ballistic missile threat in the region, or advancing our commitment to defend freedom and democracy,” she went on.
Read More: http://www.timesofisrael.com/susan-rice-us-committed-to-israels-security/
Never has the United States been more supportive of Israel than under President Obama. That they don't return the support speaks volumes.
= new reply since forum marked as read
