As the US continues negotiations with Iran and seeks to ease Israeli concerns over their security, the State Department and Pentagon quietly approved a massive arms sale to Israel this week. The deal, worth $1.87 billion, provides Israel with thousands of missiles and laser-guided bunker-busting bombs for the Israeli Air Force.
Congress is expected to approve the sale without difficulty within the next two weeks.
In an official statement, the Pentagon said, “The United States is committed to the security of Israel, and it is vital to US national interests to assist Israel to develop and maintain a strong and ready self-defense capability.”
Under the Obama Administration, diplomatic relations between Israel and the United States have been tense and at times even frosty. However, military cooperation between the two countries remains a reliable component of the alliance.
