Israel and the U.S. Sign Historic Defense Aid Agreement, but It Comes With a Few Catches
One of the several ongoing dramas in the U.S.-Israeli relationship reached what appeared to be a mutually satisfying conclusion this week, when the two countries inked a new ten-year Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) that outlines the next decade of American military aid to the Jewish State. The MoU commits the U.S. to an eye-popping $3.8 billion in annual aid—up from $3.1 billion under the last MoU—and a number that would account for nearly a quarter of Israel’s current annual military spending. The $38 billion package—the largest in U.S. history—also includes $5 billion specifically for joint missile defense projects.
On the face of it, the MoU cements American dedication to Israel’s long-term survival. As National Security Advisor Susan Rice put it on Wednesday, the MoU represents an “unprecedented commitment to the security of Israel and the Israeli people,” and a reminder of the “ironclad bond has endured l’dor va’dor, from generation to generation, across parties and administrations.”