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U.S.-Israel Aid Deal Held Up over Dispute with Congress

(Washington Post) Josh Rogin - Israel and the Obama administration have agreed on a memorandum of understanding (MOU) for a military aid package for the next 10 years which would raise annual aid from $3.1 billion to $3.3 billion starting in 2018. Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), chairman of the Senate Appropriations subcommittee that oversees the foreign affairs budget, has already marked up a bill that would give Israel $3.4 billion next year, more than the number the White House negotiated. In Graham's view, Congress has no obligation to agree to the deal, given that it was not included in the negotiations. Graham said the MOU should be a base, not a ceiling, for how much security aid the U.S. gives to Israel. Every Democrat on Graham's subcommittee voted for his bill, and in July, 37 senators, including vice-presidential candidate Tim Kaine (D-Va.), signed a letter calling on Congress to increase Israeli missile-defense funding above the administration's request.
2016-09-12 00:00:00
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