An unnamed senior US official familiar with the situation has told Reuters that significant progress has been made in three days of closed door meetings between Israel’s acting National Security Council head and US national security adviser Susan Rice.
The talks centered around the still unsettled question of a new 10-year military aid deal to Israel, which US officials have vowed will be the largest military aid package to anyone, ever, but which the Obama Administration has struggled to get Israel to accept. Certain subjects of dispute appear to have been settled.
The current pact, a 10-year, $30 billion pact, will expire in 2018, and President Obama wants to get another one in place before his term ends in January. The $37 billion offer, however, has been so far spurned by Israel, which has objected to Obama’s limits, designed to ensure that the overwhelming majority of the money is given to US military contractors, and not Israeli companies.
Some in Israel’s government believe that they can get more money simply by waiting out Obama and negotiating with his successor, and indeed, Republican candidate Donald Trump’s adviser has openly urged Israel not to deal with Obama, on the notion they’d get more out of Trump.
There has been concern, however, that Israel spurning Obama’s offer would further politicize Israeli aid within the US, and while the administration seems to be eager to sell Israel on a pact, they’re so far not willing to drive the price up to well in excess of $40 billion to do so.
Israeli expenditures for its own defense each year reach a new low as a part of its GNP. Recent years have seen substantial actual reductions. The mandatory military service term has been reduced. Israeli defense is not a big enough concern to rouse Israelis to increased commitments. Washington to follow the Israeli example and reduce aid.
Do you call it a deal when you get shaken down by an organized crime family?
Israel should get a reduction in military aid. not an increase. No aid at all until they vacate the settlements.
Reduced to ZERO.
Ok so now we support an apartheid nation. which means we have won the trifecta of international law breaking…ain’t we proud…but it does answer the question of why do they hate us…
Whenever any program or proposal is made that would help the non-1%er elites, they all scream in unison that there is no way we can afford to do such a thing.
Next time, remember where they chose to send the money. They just said Israel is more important than American citizens. So, why on earth would anyone elect such a candidate?
Pay attention and think clearly before voting. And turning off the TV set helps a lot!
Why the photo of Netanyahu with Obama. We thought you were better than that Jason Ditz. Isn’t it pretty obvious that Obama is hated by Netanyahu more than any other president for his attempts to take a stand on Israel?
Something else for the racist haters to try to sweep under the carpet and pretend it didn’t reallly happen.