Despite 'row,' US seals military deal with Israel

Source: PressTV
http://www.presstv.ir/detail.aspx?id=121660&sectionid=351020202


The US gives written consent to generously boost the Israeli military despite Washington's alleged dissatisfaction with Israeli settlement activities in the occupied Palestinian territories.

Upon agreeing on a relevant deal, the United States agreed to hand over roughly 250-million-dollars worth of Hercules C-130J aircraft to the Israeli army, the Israeli Haaretz newspaper said on Thursday.

Later in the day, the US Defense Department is to issue a formal announcement on the deal, which is to be financed by the American foreign assistance funds.

The aircraft have been custom made to suit the Israeli needs, the daily added.

Washington is rated as Tel Aviv's biggest arms supplier and has been reportedly injecting 2-billion-dollars worth of armaments into the Israel's defense industry annually.

The two sides are, meanwhile, carving out a deal which ensures Tel Aviv obtains F-35 stealth fighter jets.

Reports of Washington's still-significant military support for Tel Aviv run counter to an alleged dispute between the two sides over Israel's announcement that it would build a 1,600-unit settlement in the occupied East Jerusalem (al-Quds).