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Israel to get $US38bn in US military aid

The United States and Israel have reached an agreement worth billions of dollars in military aid to be spread out over a decade, the State Department says.

The United States will provide Israel's military with $US38 billion ($A51 billion) during the next 10 years, officials say, the largest batch of military assistance the US has pledged to another country.

Following months of behind-the-scenes negotiations, the State Department said the two countries had reached a 10-year agreement, with a signing ceremony planned for Wednesday. The US and Israel haven't disclosed the exact sum, but officials familiar with the deal said it totals $US3.8 billion a year - up from the $US3.1 billion the US gave Israel annually under the previous 10-year deal.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office confirmed in a brief statement that a deal had been reached, but offered no additional comment.

Under the agreement, Israel's ability to spend part of the funds on Israeli military products will be gradually phased out, eventually requiring all of the funds to be spent on US military industries. Israel's preference for spending some of the funds internally had been a major sticking point in the deal.

The new agreement also eliminates Israel's ability to spend a fraction of the funds on fuel for its military. In another apparent concession, Israel has agreed not to ask the US congress to approve more funds than are included in the deal unless a new war breaks out, said the officials, who weren't authorised to discuss the details publicly ahead of a formal announcement and requested anonymity.


2 min read

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Source: AAP



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