Israel to receive $30 billion in military aid package from U.S.

Thursday August 16, 2007 16:28 by George Rishmawi - IMEMC & Agencies

In an unprecedented move, the U.S. government has lately approved a $30 billion in direct military aid package to Israel over ten years, Israeli sources stated on Thursday, a step said to bolster Israel’s military power in the Middle East.

Nicholas Burns and Ehud Olmert (Photo: Israel's GPO)

‘We look at this region and we see that a secure and strong Israel is in the interest of the United States,’ Undersecretary of State Nicholas Burns says during signing ceremony f the memorandum of understanding in Jerusalem.

According to the source, the aid deal represents a 25 percent rise in US military aid to Israel, from a current $2.4 billion each year to $3 billion a year over 10 years.

Al through a memo of understanding has been signed, yet the U.S. administration must still receive Congressional approval for it to be implemented, however, Burns said he believed there would be little opposition in the Senate and House to the Israeli package.

Meanwhile, the American Administration requested congressional approval for arms sales worth $20 billion to Saudi Arabia and neighbors.

Israel says, it has no opposition against such sales deal, saying it is part of the United States efforts to strengthen what is described as “moderate Arabs “in facing the growing influence of Iran in the Middle East.

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