The US Congress will advance the American-Israeli military plan | Government Affairs

The bill before the United States Congress would tie the American and Israeli militaries together, expanding their cooperation in weapons research, development and technology.

The proposal, called the “United States-Israel Defense Technology Cooperation Initiative,” appears as Section 224 of the House Armed Services Committee’s fiscal year 2027 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). Funding for US Defense Policy.

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The standard is still in its prime. The NDAA is passed by Congress every year to set US military policy and authorize defense programs and spending.

If enacted, the law could mark a major shift in one of the world’s closest military ties, moving the two countries away from a more stable alliance. American military aid one where their defense industries are closely linked.

Section 224 would require the US secretary of defense to appoint a “facilitator”: a single official to coordinate military cooperation between the US and Israel.

The project will involve joint research and development, co-production of military equipment, and integration of military systems and data.

“What Congress is trying to do now is to find different ways to establish a relationship so deep in the American defense industry that it is impossible to remove it,” Josh Paul, former head of the US State Department and founder of the advocacy group A New Policy, said of the controversial arrangement.

“The new section in the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) will give Israel unprecedented access to American technology and will force the United States military to integrate Israeli defense technologies into our vital military forces, giving Israel incredible leverage over America’s defense needs,” he added in a video posted on Friday.

The two countries already build defense facilities together, such as the Iron Dome.

The bill will expand their joint work in many areas of modern warfare, from Artificial Intelligence (AI) to drones and cyber systems.

The offer comes in the midst of turmoil in the Middle East following the US-Israel deal on Iran earlier this year.

In February, the US and Israeli forces attacked Iran together, which started five weeks of war; Iran returned to Israel and the US border in the Gulf before the end of April.

Israel is also experiencing it murder charges in the case that South Africa submitted to the International Court of Justice, the highest court of the UN, in its war against Gaza.

Dozens of support

The legislation must first pass the House Armed Services Committee, which is expected to take it up in early June, and then pass the full House and Senate.

This was proposed by the chairman of the Republican committee, Mike Rogers, and the most senior Democrat, Adam Smith, providing support from both parties, as the polls show. growing opposition between American Democrats and some Republicans to increase military aid to Israel.

The US has supported the Israeli military for decades.

Since 2008, US law has required Washington to defend Israel’s “good war”, keeping its armed forces strong and superior to its regional rivals, because the small country must rely on better weapons than numbers.

Under the current agreement signed during the administration of former President Barack Obama, Washington gives Israel about $3.8bn a year in military aid. The 10-year contract will run until 2028.

Israel has been the recipient of US foreign aid since 1948, almost all of which has been military and is worth more than $300bn when adjusted for inflation.

The nature of that support may now change. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu recently said he wants to end Israel’s dependence on US military aid within 10 years, saying his country is “old”.

A joint venture between the two defense industries, rather than money, would serve that purpose.