[Reuters] Prime Minister Ehud Olmert said Sunday that he and President Bush last month agreed that Israel would receive $30 billion in U.S. military aid over the next decade, averaging $3 billion a year, to offset a package of arms sales to Saudi Arabia and other Gulf states. "This is an increase of 25% for military aid to Israel from the United States. I think this is a significant and important improvement of the defense aid to Israel," he said. "We understand the United States' need to assist the moderate Arab states, which are standing in one front with the United States and us in the struggle against Iran," Olmert said. The U.S. is also preparing a package of $13 billion in military assistance over the next decade for Egypt, a senior State Department official said.
2007-07-30 01:00:00Full ArticleBACK Visit the Daily Alert Archive