US to Give Israel Largest Military Aid Package in History

Source: Reuters/teleSUR

The United States plans to offer Israel the largest military assistance package in U.S. history, according to an Obama administration official.

"We are prepared to sign an MOU (memorandum of understanding) with Israel that would constitute the largest single pledge of military assistance to any country in U.S. history," a White House official told Reuters on Tuesday.

The statement came hours after 83 U.S. senators sent a letter to President Obama, urging him to reach a military assistance deal with Israel.

"In light of Israel's dramatically rising defense challenges, we stand ready to support a substantially enhanced new long-term agreement to help provide Israel the resources it requires to defend itself and preserve its qualitative military edge," said the letter.

Read more: http://www.telesurtv.net/english/news/US-to-Give-Israel-Largest-Military-Aid-Package-in-History-20160426-0021.html

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13 Democrats among 17 senators not on letter for increased Israel defense aid

Posted on April 26, 2016 by JNS.org.

(JNS.org) Among 100 members of the U.S. Senate, 17 lawmakers—13 Democrats, three Republicans, and one independent—decided not to join the strong bipartisan support for a letter arguing that Israel should receive increased annual defense aid from America.

The letter, signed by 83 senators and addressed to President Barack Obama, cites a number of security threats facing Israel that justify “investment in the long-term security requirements” forAmerica’s “closest Middle East ally.” Israel is hoping that its U.S. defense package will rise from the current $3.1 billion per year to between $4 and $4.5 billion annually, while the Obama administration has proposed a target of $3.7 billion.

U.S. Sens. Chris Coons (D-Del.) and Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) initiated the letter, which was not signed by the following 17 senators: Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.), Barbara Boxer (D-Calif.), Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio), Tom Carper (D-Del.), Bob Corker (R-Tenn.), Al Franken (D-Minn.), Tim Kaine (D-Va.), Angus King (I-Maine), Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.), Chris Murphy (D-Conn.), Rand (R-Ky.), Jack Reed (D-R.I.), Bernie Sanders (D-Vt.), Jeff Sessions (R-Ala.), Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.), John Tester (D-Mont.), and Tom Udall (D-N.M.).

http://www.jns.org/news-briefs/2016/4/26/13-democrats-among-17-us-senators-not-on-letter-for-increased-israel-defense-aid#.Vx_m4NQrKXY=