US Congress Passes ’Israel’ Strategic Partnership Bill

Local Editor

US lawmakers voted unanimously Wednesday to pass legislation making the Zionist entity a "major strategic partner" of the United States, deepening a bilateral bond that has recently shown signs of strain.

In a voice vote, the House approved the United States-"Israel" Strategic Partnership Act of 2014, which expands cooperation in military, and security, energy, research and development, business, agriculture, water management and academics.

The measure reflects "the sense of Congress that "Israel" is a major strategic partner of the United States," and declares Washington's "unwavering support" for "Israel" as a so-called "Jewish state".

The bill, which passed the Senate unanimously in September, now goes to President Barack Obama for his signature.

The legislation would expand the US weapons stockpile in "Israel" by some $200 million in value, to a total of $1.8 billion, so that the Pentagon can be better prepared to conduct military operations in the volatile Middle East.

It also crucially allows "Israel" to use the weapons in the event of an emergency, as it did this summer during its summer aggression on the besieged Gaza strip.
Earlier this year Congress dramatically increased US funding for "Israel's" Iron Dome missile military system, to $351 million for fiscal year 2015 from $235 million the previous year.

"We must always be working to ensure that our support for "Israel" keeps pace with the threats proliferating against it -- from Iran to Hamas," House Foreign Affairs Committee chairman Ed Royce claimed in a statement.

The legislation also requires the Obama administration to move toward allowing "Israel" to be included in the top-tier category for license-free exports of certain US technologies and products, and it places "Israel" on the US list of countries that participate in the visa waiver program.

Source: News Agencies, Edited by website team