Ya’alon heads to US to discuss renewal of Israel’s military aid package
Defense minster to meet with US counterpart Ashton Carter to discuss ways to deepen America’s security cooperation with Israel.
By TOVAH LAZAROFFUpdated: MARCH 13, 2016 07:34Former defense minister Moshe Yaalon(photo credit: REUTERS)
Defense Minister Moshe Ya’alon left for the United States on Saturday night for working meetings that will include talks about the renewal of a 10-year military aid package between the two countries.The package, known as the Memorandum of Understanding, is set to expire in 2018. It guarantees Israel $3 billion annually in military aid.Israel wants hat sum raised to anywhere from $ 4 billion to $5 billion annually given the growing threats in the region. The US only wants to raise it to $3.7 a year for ten-years.When US Vice President Joe Biden was in Israel last week he urged Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to finalized the deal while US President Barack Obama was still in office, warning that the next administration could offer Israel a worse deal.While in the US Ya’alon will meet with US Defense Secretary Ashton Carter to discuss ways to deepen America’s security cooperation with Israel.He will meet separately with UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon. He will discuss with both men the latest developments with regard to regional threats.