The United States and Israel have agreed on a record $38 billion package
of US military aid and will sign the new pact on Wednesday Sep 14,2016, enshrining
defence funding for Washington's closest Middle East ally for the next
decade, officials said.
The deal will represent the biggest pledge of US military assistance made to any country but also involves major concessions granted by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, according to officials on both sides and US congressional aides.
Those include Israel's agreement not to seek additional funds from Congress beyond what will be guaranteed annually in the new package, and to phase out a special arrangement that has allowed Israel to spend part of its US aid on its own defence industry instead of on American-made weapons, the officials said.
Israel's chief negotiator, Jacob Nagel, acting head of Netanyahu's national security council, arrived in Washington in preparation for the signing ceremony, and the White House also began briefing members of Congress on the deal.
Nearly 10 months of drawn-out aid negotiations have underscored continuing friction between President Barack Obama and Netanyahu over last year's U.S.-led nuclear deal with Israel's arch-foe Iran, an accord the Israeli leader opposed. The United States and Israel have also been at odds over the Palestinians.
The deal will represent the biggest pledge of US military assistance made to any country but also involves major concessions granted by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, according to officials on both sides and US congressional aides.
Those include Israel's agreement not to seek additional funds from Congress beyond what will be guaranteed annually in the new package, and to phase out a special arrangement that has allowed Israel to spend part of its US aid on its own defence industry instead of on American-made weapons, the officials said.
Israel's chief negotiator, Jacob Nagel, acting head of Netanyahu's national security council, arrived in Washington in preparation for the signing ceremony, and the White House also began briefing members of Congress on the deal.
Nearly 10 months of drawn-out aid negotiations have underscored continuing friction between President Barack Obama and Netanyahu over last year's U.S.-led nuclear deal with Israel's arch-foe Iran, an accord the Israeli leader opposed. The United States and Israel have also been at odds over the Palestinians.
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