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US, Israel pledge deepening cooperation at strategic dialogue
Israel’s Prime Minister has met with the US Deputy Secretary in Jerusalem, as part of a wider strategic dialogue between senior officials.
Anthony Blinken welcomed the opportunity to discuss strategic issues, especially as “both our countries face difficult problems, conflicts”. Benjamin Netanyahu urged that “civilised nations must band together” to combat terrorism. However, he also pushed for cooperation “in other matters of technology, of trade… I think the more we cooperate the better will be for both our peoples”.
Blinken agreed, he said: “There is a great opportunity, great chance to develop the bilateral relationship and you know that Israel technology can help us improve our situation… and to develop our country further.”
Blinken headed a 19-strong US delegation from across agencies, participating in the biannual strategic dialogue. The Israeli delegation was headed by Acting National Security Council head Yaakov Nagel, and Foreign Ministry Director General Dore Gold.
Meanwhile, Israel’s Defence Minister Avigdor Lieberman is set to travel to the United States for his first official visit since taking office. He will participate in a roll-out ceremony for the first F-35 fighter plane which is expected to be supplied to Israel later in 2016.
Lieberman will also meet US Defence Secretary Ashton Carter, with protracted talks to agree a new US military aid package to Israel high on the agenda. The current package is worth more than £2 billion, but is due to expire in 2017. The two countries have been discussing a new ten-year agreement, but differences appear to remain on the financial extent of the deal, the military hardware it will include and how much of the aid can be spent on domestic military products.
Congress and the White House have openly disagreed over an additional budget for Israeli missile development, sparking controversy. However, Blinken gave assurances that the new deal will be “the largest single pledge of military assistance from the United States to any country in our history”.