The United States will give Israel $38 billion in military aid over a decade, the largest such aid package in U.S. history, under an agreement disclosed this week and signed on Wednesday. The deal, whose details were reported by Reuters earlier, will allow Israel to upgrade most of its fighter aircraft, improve its ground forces' mobility and strengthen its missile defence systems, a top U.S. official said. While the package constitutes the most U.S. military aid ever given to any country, it entails concessions by IsraeliPrime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, according to officials on both sides. The $38-billion memorandum of understanding covers U.S. fiscal years 2019-2028 and succeeds the current $30-billion MOU signed in 2007, which expires at the end of fiscal 2018. Undersecretary of State Thomas Shannon and by Jacob Nagel, acting head of Netanyahu's national security council.

Source: CBC News September 14, 2016 21:45 UTC