Extortion from Israel, I’m shocked. I wonder how much booty they can extract this time… I would like to give them some time bombs, as sort of a practical joke.
US Eager to Placate, But Israeli Govt Split on Terms
Israeli Military, Foreign Ministry Split on Deal
Last week’s reports of a deal in the making in which the US would give Israel a massive bump in military aid in return for their acquiescence on the Iran nuclear deal isconfirmed this weekend by Ynet, who quotes State Department officials as saying the US is prepared to pay “a hefty price to get some quiet from the Israelis.”
While the reports are that Israeli officials are resigned to this happening at some point, the indication is there is a major split among top officials as to how and when to proceed.
Israel’s Foreign Ministry is said to oppose any direct dealings with the Obama Administration at this point, believing that this would amount to an admission of their willingness to back off on the Iran deal, and that it would “only be a question of price” at that point.
The Foreign Ministry are also concerned, having been the ministry heavily campaigning internationally about the “threat” of the deal, that they will appear to have surrendered to the US.
By contrast, Israel’s Military Intelligence division believes that Iran is already a “done deal” and that the longer they wait, the less pressure there will be for the US to pay up. The military will be the primary recipients of this US funding, and believes they can get the most out of it by making the deal now, not later.
US State Department officials have expressed puzzlement about Israel’s hesitance in naming a price, but it likely that this split will continue for awhile until Israel issues actual demands.
I just spoke to a Palestinian friend who lives in Israel. He told me he read in the papers there that the figure is $1.8 billion. He isnt sure if its a one time payment or an annual increase in US military aid.
Here is a link to the article so you can read it without those fucking ads blocking the text:
Thirty two years ago I read an article in the Stars and Stripes newspaper (I was a paperboy) that talked about the current US debt and deficits and another that talked about loans and grants we gave to Israel and Egypt. I was in high school and began asking teachers how this was possible. Not one could give me the answer and that began my doom porn odyssey.
Israel Seeks Enormous Military Aid Hike Over Iran
US Would Bump Annual Aid to $4.5 Billion
by Jason Ditz, May 26, 2015
Right now, the US gives Israel $3 billion in military aid annually, part of a package negotiated back in 2007. It was a 10-year package, and Israel is looking for a big bump for the next 10 years.
According to officials familiar with ongoing talks, the Netanyahu government wants $42-$45 billion over the 2018-2028 period, and that President Obama had already agreed to that level in principle.
That’s a 50% hike in aid, and that’s above and beyond the other military subsidies Congress is always slipping in bills. Israeli officials are also clear it doesn’t include the package they intend to demand on the Iran nuclear deal.
For awhile, there’s been talk of the State Department trying to negotiate a big one-off arms package for Israel in return for them stopping their lobbying against the Iran civilian nuclear deal. The “compensation components” are expected to include a number of F-35 warplanes and other equipment.
Israel’s government is said to be split on the timing and size of the Iran package demands, with the military hoping to make demands soon, and top foreign ministry officials believing that they should hold off for awhile in hopes of getting even more concessions from the US later.
Oh, who cares, right?
FWIW, Iran spends about 6.3 billion annually, in USD on the military, slightly below that of Greece; obviously a major threat:
http://www.globalfirepower.com/defense-spending-budget.asp