CMEP Bulletin: Playing Politics With Israel Aid Deal
US Aid to Senators Want to Change Massive New Israel Aid Package [Reuters]
Republican U.S. lawmakers launched an effort on Tuesday to modify a $38 billion military aid agreement with Israel by providing more money and easing controls on how it is spent, setting up a showdown with President Barack Obama over the package days after it was signed.
US Aid to Israel Takes a Partisan Turn [Al-Monitor]
Seven lawmakers signed on to legislation from Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., that would provide an extra $1.5 billion in missile defense and direct assistance to Israel’s military next fiscal year. They object to the White House’s efforts to short-circuit unsolicited annual aid hikes by Congress as well as the elimination of a 26% carve-out for Israel’s domestic defense industry instead of US weapons-makers.
Washington Watch: Time to End Aid to Israel? [Jerusalem Post]
The signing of a ten year, $38 billion military assistance package for Israel gives the Jewish state more US aid than all other countries combined. Yet there is a chorus of complaints from Israel and some of its American friends that it is not enough.
‘Beholden to AIPAC’- Progressive Senators Warren, Murphy, Brown Sign Letter Seeking to Limit Obama’s Actions [Mondoweiss]
Yesterday the Israel lobby group AIPAC, the American Israel Public Affairs Committee, flexed its muscle against President Obama and on the side of Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu by posting a letter signed by 88 senators warning President Obama not to back any international measures that would pressure Israel to withdraw from occupied territories.