US Senate Majority Urges Obama to Boost ’Israel’ Military Aid

Local Editor

More than four-fifths of the US Senate have signed a letter urging US President Barack Obama to quickly reach an agreement on a new military aid package for the "Israeli" entity worth more than the current $3 billion per year.

83 of the 100 senators signed the letter, led by Republican Lindsey Graham and Democrat Chris Coons. Senator Ted Cruz, a 2016 presidential candidate, was one of the 51 Republicans on board. The Senate's Democratic White House hopeful, Bernie Sanders, was not among the 32 Democrats.

That money is allocated through a 10-year agreement that expires in 2018. Negotiations on a new pact are ongoing, with the "Israeli" entity believed to be seeking an increase to at least $4 billion a year.

The senators, in a letter dated Monday, did not specify how much they think the "Israeli" entity should receive, but said they "stand ready to support a substantially enhanced new long-term agreement."

The "Israeli" entity wants $4 billion to $4.5 billion in aid in a new agreement to replace the current memorandum of understanding, or MOU, which expires in 2018. US officials had given lower target figures of about $3.7 billion. They hope for a new agreement before Obama leaves office in January.

The funding is intended to boost the "Israeli" entity's military and allow it to maintain a technological advantage over its Arab neighbors.

The letter said the Senate also intends to consider increased US funding for cooperative missile defense programs, similar to increases in the past several years.

Obama had asked for $150 million for such programs, but lawmakers are believed to be willing to send the "Israeli" entity hundreds of millions for programs like its Iron Dome aerial system and David's Sling Weapons System [DSWS] medium- and long-range military system.

Source: News Agencies, Edited by website team