Israel plans to phase out unconditional U.S. military aid and rebuild its relations with Washington on the principles of equal strategic partnership.
Globalinfo.az reports this with reference to the office of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
The office stressed that about 30 years ago Netanyahu undertook to phase out direct U.S. economic aid worth more than 1 billion dollars and has fully kept that pledge.
It said that Israel’s economy has now reached a sufficient level of maturity and financial stability to finance its defense needs independently, without relying on U.S. budget subsidies.
This step is seen as a fundamental review of bilateral relations and a shift from a model of foreign patronage to a full-fledged allied partnership.
The Israeli Prime Minister’s Office also cited the position of U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio.
Rubio confirmed that the proposal to drop grant programs was put forward directly by the Israeli side and that the country is ready to finance arms supply contracts independently.
Aliyar Khalil
Globalinfo.az
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