US HOUSE COMMITTEE ENDORSES EXTRA $500 MILLION AID TO ISRAEL

         Washington, 30 Dhul hijja 1434/4 November 2013 (MINA) – The US House of Representatives Armed Services Committee has proposed a nearly half a billion dollar increase in military aid to Israel even as the United States is struggling with domestic economic issues.

         The committee approved $488 million last week to fund Israel’s development of two missile systems and to finance the purchase of extra batteries for 2014, Press TV reported as quoted by Mi’raj News Agency (MINA).

         The proposal must now be approved by the House Appropriations Committee and then submitted to the Senate, the media added. 

         The proposed aid is in addition to the $3.1 billion in military assistance that Washington provides to the Zionist regime annually. 

         US Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel promised that the current aid would not be reduced even while significant cuts are being made to the US defense budget. 

         This comes as the US government has recently cut $5 billion dollars from the food assistance program, forcing nearly 48 million Americans to cut back on their food purchases. 

           The media added that the US government is pressured to serve Israel’s interests due to the influence of the powerful Zionist lobby in the United States. The pro-Israel pressure groups actively work to steer US foreign policy in favor of Israel. (T/P03/E)

Mi’raj News Agency (MINA)