US approves military aid for Israel, restricts support to Palestinians
The spending proposal, put forward through appropriations legislation, outlines a total of $6.77 billion for the State Department’s Foreign Military Financing program. Within that amount, at least $3.3 billion is designated as grant-based military assistance for Israel. The funds are set to be released within 30 days of the bill becoming law and are intended for the purchase of advanced weapons systems.
Under the terms of the legislation, US security assistance to the West Bank and Gaza would be suspended unless the Secretary of State formally confirms to Congress that Palestinian authorities are meeting specific benchmarks set by Washington. These include taking steps to address alleged “torture” and other reported abuses committed by Palestinian security forces, according to the bill’s language.
The proposal also cuts off assistance if Palestinians launch or actively back cases at the International Criminal Court against Israeli nationals over alleged crimes committed against Palestinians.
An additional provision prevents funds allocated under the heading of National Security Investment Programs from being used to support the Palestinian Authority should Palestinians gain the “same standing as member states or full membership as a state” at the United Nations outside the framework of a negotiated settlement with Israel.
The $3.3 billion in yearly military aid for Israel falls under a broader 10-year agreement totaling $38 billion, signed in 2016 and scheduled to expire in 2028.
Separately, reports indicate that Israel is seeking to replace the current arrangement with a new 20-year agreement, which could include expanded joint research and development efforts between the two countries in the field of defense technology.
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