The US and Israel are to sign the largest military aid deal, worth $40 billion over 10 years, “as soon as possible”, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office said yesterday.
The news came as acting head of the Israeli National Security Council, Brigadier General Yaakov Nagel, arrived in Washington yesterday to meet White House officials to wrap up talks regarding the deal.
Israeli radio reported that Netanyahu had decided to sign the deal with the current US administration and not wait until after the election.
Under the new deal, which comes into force in 2018, Israel must buy military equipment from the US and not from its local companies.
The current aid pact is worth $30 billion over 10 years.