US’ $38 Billion Military Aid Package for Israel Enters into Force

New York, MINA – The largest ever US military aid package to Israel, which worth $38bn to be delivered with a period of ten years, entered into force, State Department Spokeswoman Heather Nauert announced yesterday.

“As we enter the new fiscal year, the ten-year period of the $38 billion Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) signed by the United States and Israel in 2016 begins,” Nauert said in a written statement, MEMO reported.

“Under the terms of the MOU, the United States will set funding for Israel at levels of $3.3 billion in Foreign Military Financing and $500 million for cooperative programmes for missile defence over each of the next ten years,” she added.

She said that the implementation of the MOU reflects “the enduring and unshakable commitment of the President [Trump], this Administration, and the American people to Israel’s security.”

“Israel is also threatened by the reckless proliferation of destabilising weapons systems into the region that increase the possibility of an escalated conflict in an already dangerous and volatile theatre,” she added.

“The United States unconditionally affirms Israel’s right to self-defence, and this MOU is a concrete demonstration of our commitment to Israel’s capacity to defend itself with a qualitative military edge over all potential regional adversaries.”

The deal was signed by the former US President Barack Obama and will provide Israel $38 billion in US military aid from 2018 to 2028.(R/r04/rs5)

Mi’raj News Agency (MINA)