Congress Approves "Israel" Aid Increase
Source: Alalam.ir, 27-06-2008
WASHINGTON--The US Congress has approved a 170 million dollar increase in security assistance to ‘Israel' as part of its new 10-year, 30 billion dollar defense aid commitment to ‘Israel'.
The money for ‘Israel' was part of a larger supplemental spending bill that included 162 billion dollars for the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. The legislation gained final approval in a 92-6 Senate vote late Thursday.
America's pro-‘Israel' lobby, the American ‘Israel' Public Affairs Committee, welcomed the congressional action, saying it would increase US aid to ‘Israel' to 2.55 billion dollars in fiscal year 2009, up from 2.38 billion dollars this year.
"The US commitment to maintaining ‘Israel's' qualitative military edge is the cornerstone of American policy in the region," AIPAC said in a statement Friday.
"This year's package holds heightened significance for US security interests...."
The package was unveiled by Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice on July 30 as part of a new military pact with US allies in the Middle East.
The aid includes a 20 billion dollar weapons package for Saudi Arabia, a 13 billion dollar package for Egypt, and reportedly arms deals worth at least 20 billion dollars for other Persian Gulf states.
The military aid to ‘Israel' reflected an increase in value of more than 25 percent, ‘Israel' Prime Minister Ehud Olmert has said, describing the package as a considerable improvement and very important element for national security.
WASHINGTON--The US Congress has approved a 170 million dollar increase in security assistance to ‘Israel' as part of its new 10-year, 30 billion dollar defense aid commitment to ‘Israel'.
The money for ‘Israel' was part of a larger supplemental spending bill that included 162 billion dollars for the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. The legislation gained final approval in a 92-6 Senate vote late Thursday.
America's pro-‘Israel' lobby, the American ‘Israel' Public Affairs Committee, welcomed the congressional action, saying it would increase US aid to ‘Israel' to 2.55 billion dollars in fiscal year 2009, up from 2.38 billion dollars this year.
"The US commitment to maintaining ‘Israel's' qualitative military edge is the cornerstone of American policy in the region," AIPAC said in a statement Friday.
"This year's package holds heightened significance for US security interests...."
The package was unveiled by Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice on July 30 as part of a new military pact with US allies in the Middle East.
The aid includes a 20 billion dollar weapons package for Saudi Arabia, a 13 billion dollar package for Egypt, and reportedly arms deals worth at least 20 billion dollars for other Persian Gulf states.
The military aid to ‘Israel' reflected an increase in value of more than 25 percent, ‘Israel' Prime Minister Ehud Olmert has said, describing the package as a considerable improvement and very important element for national security.
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