US to Boost Military Aid to ’Israel’

Local Editor

US War aid to "Israel" is likely to increase after 2017, sources on both sides said on Thursday, seeing a possible link to Washington's efforts to assuage its ally's fears over the expected nuclear deal with Iran.

A present package worth $3bn a year expires in 2017. A US official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said negotiators were close to a new deal that would bring annual payouts to $3.6bn to $3.7bn on average.

An "Israeli" official, who also declined to be named, put the expected aid at between $3.5bn and $4bn.

Responding to reports that an increased military aid package was in the works, the "Israeli" prime minister, Binyamin Netanyahu, confirmed there were such discussions with the Americans but said he would keep campaigning against Iran.
"There is no trade-off requiring I agree to this [nuclear] deal with Iran. The deal is bad and we will continue to oppose it," Netanyahu said in remarks quoted by "Israeli" broadcasters.

In Washington, a White House National Security Council spokesman, Alistair Baskey, said: "These reports are wholly inaccurate."

"While we anticipate discussions in the coming period between the US and "Israeli" governments about how long-term security cooperation between the two sides can be further strengthened, no such detailed discussions at a senior level have occurred recently," Baskey said.

Though, the Pentagon had no immediate comment.

The previous US administration signed a 10-year deal with "Israel" in 2007 giving it $30bn, most of which must be spent on American military products. Washington has earmarked hundreds of millions more dollars for "Israeli" missile defenses.
Since then, the US and five other world powers have pressed ahead with the Iran negotiations, setting a 30 June deadline for a final accord.

Asked if the expected rise in war grants to the Zionist entity was linked to Washington's recent dealings with Iran, the US official said: "Could be."

Source: News Agencies, Edited by website team