Israel to receive largest-ever US military aid package

Washington [USA], Sept. 14 (ANI): Israel is set to get about USD 38 billion over 10 years as part of the Obama administration's largest pledge of military assistance in American history. Israel is set to get about USD 38 billion over 10 years, according to congressional and administration sources, up from the approximately USD 30 billion decade-long deal that expires in 2018, reports the CNN. The Memorandum of Understanding sealing the arrangement will be signed today at the State Department. "It's an important message to the region that nobody should misread the differences between the US and Israel when it comes to Iran or policy differences when it comes to the Palestinians," said Middle East Peace Process project director David Makovsky at the Washington Institute for Near East Policy. "At the core, the US remains very committed to Israel's long-term security," he added. Israel argued that the deal should be much larger than previous packages as it perceives that sanctions relief provided as part of the nuclear deal to Iran would allow it wreak greater havoc in the region. New York Representative Nita Lowey, the highest-ranking Democrat on the House Appropriations Committee, said in a statement Tuesday that the agreement would put Israel "in a better position to address turmoil and instability in the region and therefore be able to better protect its citizens and secure its borders." The US as made Israel its largest recipient of military assistance for decades, part of its commitment to help its closest Mideast ally maintain a qualitative military advantage in a hostile region. (ANI)