The US gives written consent to generously boost the Israeli
military despite Washington’s alleged dissatisfaction with Israeli
settlement activities in the occupied Palestinian territories.
Upon agreeing on a relevant deal, the United States agreed to hand
over roughly 250-million-dollars worth of Hercules C-130J aircraft to
the Israeli army, the Israeli Haaretz newspaper said on Thursday.
Later in the day, the US Defense Department is to issue a formal
announcement on the deal, which is to be financed by the American
foreign assistance funds.
The aircraft have been custom made to suit the Israeli needs, the
daily added.
Washington is rated as Tel Aviv’s biggest arms supplier and has been
reportedly injecting 2-billion-dollars worth of armaments into the
Israel’s defense industry annually.
The two sides are, meanwhile, carving out a deal which ensures Tel
Aviv obtains F-35 stealth fighter jets.
Reports of Washington’s still-significant military support for Tel
Aviv run counter to an alleged dispute between the two sides over
Israel’s announcement that it would build a 1,600-unit settlement in the
occupied East Jerusalem (al-Quds).
HN/HGH/MMN
