Friday, July 1, 2016

We Must Give More to Israel

The White House on Friday told members of Congress that it had offered to substantially sweeten a decade-long military aid package for Israel, the latest turn in months of fitful negotiations that have proceeded despite deep divisions over the Iran nuclear deal.

Under the proposed terms, the United States would insist that the Israelis use the tens of billions of dollars they receive under the deal to buy United States-made goods and services, rather than spend a sizable portion in their own country as they are permitted to do now.

The administration laid out details of the package in a lengthy letter to senators who had written to the White House in April urging the completion of a new aid deal.

[...]

In the letter on Friday, Susan E. Rice, Mr. Obama’s national security adviser, and Shaun Donovan, the director of the Office of Management and Budget, said that the administration was prepared to increase the existing military aid package for Israel, worth nearly $30 billion, and sign a new one “that would constitute the largest pledge of military assistance to any country in U.S. history.”

[...]

The negotiations have unfolded in secret, with neither side willing to detail its position on an agreement that people close to the talks have said could top $40 billion.

  NYT
Surely Israel isn't going to make any deals that lessen their advantage in the last months of an Obama administration. All they have to do is wait until Hillary takes office to get the very best of all possible deals. More money and no restrictions.
Such an aid agreement “would build on the unparalleled support that the United States has provided to Israel under President Obama,” Ms. Rice and Mr. Donovan said. “Through word and deed, this administration has done more for Israel’s security than any other in U.S. history.”
Sorry. It's not enough.

Meanwhile, universal health care and free college tuition for US citizens is simply not doable, Bernie. Don't be ridiculous.

...but hey, do what you want...you will anyway.

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