Israel gets “the single largest pledge of bilateral military assistance in US history”

Netanyahu had asked for US$ 4.5 billion a year, he got 38 over ten in a single package without any further requests that must be spent on US weapons. Hillary Clinton praises the deal. Meanwhile, illegal Israeli settlement activity can continue.

Jerusalem (AsiaNews) – The United States has agreed to a ten-year, US$ 38 billion military aid package to Israel. Running from 2019 until 2028, it is “the single largest pledge of bilateral military assistance in US history”.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had sought US$ 4.5 billion, but settled for US$ 3.8 billion each year for the next decade. The current agreement, which expires in 2018, provides for 3.1 billion annual aid.

The new deal comes with certain caveats. Israel cannot make any additional requests except during emergencies. It can only use the money to buy US weapon and not support Israel’s military industry. The current aid package allowed Israel to spend 26.3 per cent of US military aid on its own domestic defense companies.

Relations have been strained between the two leaders for years, and worsened in March 2015 when Mr Netanyahu appeared before Congress to lobby against the Iran nuclear deal advocated by Mr Obama.

More than 80 per cent of American senators signed a letter in April addressed to US President Barack Obama urging him to reach an agreement on an increased military aid package to Israel.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had indicated that he could wait for Mr Obama's successor to secure a better deal.

Hillary Clinton, the Democratic candidate for US president, praised the deal saying it will "help solidify and chart a course for the US-Israeli defence relationship into the 21st century".

According to analysts, the new deal, in addition to helping Us military industries, will help Israel fight against Hezbollah as the latter has built up a massive arsenal in the Syrian war.

For pro-Palestinian groups, the deal further undermines any peace deal between Israel and Palestine. Talks on an agreement are undermined by Israeli settlements on Palestinian land, which are illegal under international law.

By signing, the US has also lost leverage to force Israel to get back to talks. Although Washington has frequently criticised these settlements, it has never been able to get any freeze.

• israel
• united states
• economy
• weapons
• aid
• settlements
• benjamin netanyahu