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Israel To Seek U.S.-Backed Loan for Mega Arms Deal. Are Strings Attached?

(Defense News) Barbara Opall-Rome - Israel's Defense Ministry (MoD) is asking the U.S. government to guarantee billions of dollars in low-interest bridge loans for a Pentagon-proposed package of V-22 Ospreys, F-15 radars and precision-strike weaponry that it ultimately intends to fund with future military aid from the U.S. Israeli Defense Minister Moshe Ya'alon aimed to advance the issue in meetings with lawmakers and Jewish leaders on Capitol Hill on Thursday. On Friday, Ya'alon is scheduled to fly to the Pentagon aboard an Osprey. U.S. officials were loath to link the pending response to Israel's irregular financing request to Jerusalem's readiness to resume long-stalled Palestinian peace talks. All underscored Washington's unconditional commitment to Israel's security. Nevertheless, a senior U.S. source noted that the unprecedented uptick in security support from the Obama White House was part of larger confidence-building efforts aimed at "encouraging the Israeli government to take those risky, yet necessary steps toward peace." When asked if U.S. strings would be attached to the multibillion-dollar funding package under review, the source replied: "It's not a matter of quid pro quo. There won't be strings, but there are expectations."
2013-06-14 00:00:00
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