BREAKING NEWS

Ex-MI chief: Netanyahu erred in rejecting Obama's defense aid offer

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu erred in rejecting US President Barack Obama’s offer of a 10-year defense aid package, the former head of Military Intelligence told Army Radio on Tuesday.
Israel wants $4b. to $4.5b. in aid in a new agreement to replace the current memorandum of understanding, or MOU, which expires in 2018.
US officials have given lower target figures of about $3.7b. They hope for a new agreement before Obama leaves office in January.
The Obama administration wants to cement a new 10-year defense aid deal before he leaves office in January to demonstrate his commitment to Israel’s security, especially after reaching a nuclear agreement with Iran that Israel strongly opposed.
A White House official said discussions with Israel were continuing. “We are prepared to sign an MOU with Israel that would constitute the largest single pledge of military assistance to any country in US history,” the official said.