The new 38 billion dollar military assistance program for the next ten years between the United States and Israel has been signed. The current memorandum, set at 3,1 billion dollars a year, will expire in the 2018. È the largest foreign military assistance agreement ever signed in US history.
Starting with the 2019 fiscal year, the United States will guarantee funding for 3,8 billion dollars a year. The new MOU, Memorandum Of Understanding, will expire in the 2028. Israel asked for military aid with budget adjusted to 4 / 4,5 billion dollars a year.
Israel's commitment to security is adamant - reads a statement signed by President Barack Obama - and it is based on a genuine and lasting concern for the welfare and future of the State of Israel.
The Obama administration was pressing to cement a new ten-year agreement with Israel before the end of the mandate, especially after reaching a nuclear agreement with Iran, strongly opposed by Jerusalem. The MOU was signed in the State Department by Israel's national security adviser, Jacob Nagel, and Thomas Shannon, undersecretary for US Political Affairs.
Despite the tensions - emphasized Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu - relations between Israel and the United States are strong and powerful. "This does not mean that there are no disagreements, but they are things that happen in a family. Nothing will influence the great friendship between Israel and the United States, a relationship that emerges in this agreement that will be very useful in forging Israel's power in the next decade".
Netanyahu disagrees with Obama for both Iran and the Palestinian issue. In the new military assistance program, Israel will be forced to reinvest the sums obtained in American industry. Therefore, the possibility (still in progress) of spending part of the sums obtained by the US in Israeli industries has been canceled.
The 38 billions of dollars will be divided as follows: 33 billions in military supplies and the remaining five for missile defense. To date, Israel's entire defense missile asset was financed separately by Congress on an annual basis (in total over 600 million dollars). The United States has jointly developed or financed all three of Israel's missile defense levels: Iron Dome (short range), David's Sling (medium range) ed Arrow (long range) for a total expenditure of over 600 million dollars.
In the new agreement, Israel will not be able to reverse the sums obtained to buy fuel for its army.
Finally, Israel renounces to request additional funds from Congress before the natural expiration of the contract.
(photo: Israeli Air Force)
