by Erez Linn and Israel Hayom Staff
$38B aid package, negotiated in 2016, allows U.S. to increase its defense aid to Israel, increases weapons stockpiles Israel may use in a conflict with Hezbollah
The U.S. Senate has
passed the U.S.-Israel Security Assistance Authorization Act of 2018, a
bipartisan piece of legislation that authorizes U.S. security
assistance to Israel for 10 years, regardless of which administration
happens to be in power.
On Wednesday, the Senate voted in favor of
the $38 billion aid package, negotiated in 2016, allows the U.S. to
increase its assistance to Israel and encourages increased weapons
stockpiles and U.S.-Israeli cooperative ventures on anti-drone
technologies, cybersecurity, and space.
According to the American Israel Public
Affairs Committee, the act authorizes a joint assessment of the kinds of
precision-guided weaponry Israel needs to defend itself, allowing the
acquisition of such munitions to be fast-tracked.
The act also authorizes the U.S. War
Reserve Stockpile in Israel for an additional five years and allows the
president to add precision-guided weapons to that stockpile for Israel
to use in an armed conflict with Hezbollah.
"The act seeks to ensure that Israel has
the means to defend itself, by itself, against growing and emerging
threats – including Iran's presence close to Israel's northern border,"
AIPAC said in a statement.
In related news, AIPAC commended the U.S.
Congress for approving the John S. McCain National Defense Authorization
Act for 2019, which includes hundreds of millions of dollars' worth of
security provisions for Israel.
The NDAA authorizes funds for research and
development on the Iron Dome, David's Sling, Arrow 2 and Arrow 3
systems, and $50 million for joint U.S.-Israeli work on countertunnel
technology.
Erez Linn and Israel Hayom Staff
Source: http://www.israelhayom.com/2018/08/05/us-senate-votes-to-lock-in-aid-to-israel-regardless-of-administration/
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