US to sign 30 bln usd arms deal with Israel |
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Wed, 15 Aug 2007 06:30
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WASHINGTON Thomson Financial - The United States will sign a pact this week providing 30 bln usd in military aid to Israel over a decade, the State Department said.Under Secretary of State Nicholas Burns, who will make a three-day visit to Israel from today, 'will sign the memorandum of understanding on the new 30 billion dollar, 10-year military assistance package,' the department said in a statement yesterday.The package was unveiled by Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice on July 30 as part of a new military pact with US allies in the Middle East in a bid to 'counter the negative influences' of militant groups Al-Qaeda and Hezbollah as well as arch enemies Iran and Syria.They include a 20 bln usd weapons package for Saudi Arabia, a 13 bln usd package for Egypt, and reported arms deals worth at least 20 bln usd for other Gulf states.The military aid to Israel reflected an increase in value of more than 25 pct, Israel Prime Minister Ehud Olmert has said, describing the package as a considerable improvement and very important element for national security.'Other than the increase in aid, we received an explicit and detailed commitment to guarantee Israel's qualitative advantage over other Arab states,' he had said following recent talks with US President George W. Bush.newsdesk@thomson.comajbCOPYRIGHTCopyright AFX News Limited 2007. All rights reserved.The copying, republication or redistribution of AFX News Content, including by framing or similar means, is expressly prohibited without the prior written consent of AFX News.
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Israeli PM announces 30 bln dollar US defence aid 