US To Boost Military Aid to ’Israel’ after Iran Nuclear Deal

Local Editor

The US has offered to increase military aid to "Israel" by another $1.5 billion per year to ease tensions over the nuclear deal with Iran, media has reported. War Secretary Ash Carter is expected to make the offer during next week's visit to Tel Aviv.

The proposed increase would see "Israel" getting an additional squadron of F-35 fighter jets, funding for research and development of missile systems, and ammunition to replenish the stocks used in last year's bombing of Gaza, "Israeli" sources told Jerusalem Post.

Under the current arrangement, "Israel" is receiving $3 billion a year, most of which is used to purchase US military hardware such as fighter jets and missile systems.

"Israeli" and US officials have been discussing increasing the amount of aid to anywhere between $4.2 and $4.5 billion per year, sources familiar with the talks told the New York Times.

Netanyahu is reportedly reluctant to discuss US aid "at this juncture," since that would mean giving tacit approval to the agreement the US and five other countries reached with Iran earlier this week.

The "Israeli" PM called the deal a "historic mistake" and may be hoping that the US Congress will refuse to endorse it before it goes into effect.

Iran and the "P5+1" group - including five permanent UN Security Council members and Germany - signed an agreement on Tuesday to curtail Iranian atomic research over the next 15 years in exchange for lifting nuclear-related sanctions and embargoes.

According to the Jerusalem Post, the "Israeli" Air Force is expected to hold a number of exercises with US and European countries for the first time in six years. They will be aimed at "dealing with long-range missile attacks and flights to distant countries."

However, the paper's sources noted the US would likely require assurances from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu that "Israel" would not launch any military operations without first informing Washington.

Meanwhile, Isaac Herzog, leader of the "Israeli" Knesset opposition, said Tuesday that he would soon be traveling to the US to "advance a package of security measures to suit the new situation," according to the New York Times.

Source: News Agencies, Edited by website team