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Prime Minister Ehud Olmert and U.S. President George W. Bush meeting at the White House last month. (Archive)
Last update - 20:04 29/07/2007
Olmert welcomes 'significant improvement' in U.S. military aid
By Aluf Benn and Barak Ravid, Haaretz Correspondents

Prime Minister Ehud Olmert on Sunday welcomed an "important and significant improvement" in the amount of American military aid to Israel, which aims to calm fears over an impending major U.S. weapons sale to Saudi Arabia.

Sources in Jerusalem told Haaretz over the weekend that Washington is prepared to increase military aid to Israel in order to ease the defense establishment's concern over the proposed American weapons sale to Riyadh.

Olmert added that Israel appreciates Washington wishes to boost moderate Arab states through weapons sales.

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"We understand the United States' need to assist the
moderate Arab states, which are standing in one front with the United States and us in the struggle against Iran," Olmert said, referring to Tehran's nuclear program.

The prime minister that said he and U.S. President George W. Bush, in talks at the White House last month, agreed Israel would receive $30 billion in U.S. military aid over the next decade, averaging $3 billion a year.

"This is an increase of 25 percent for the military aid to Israel from the United States. I think this is a significant and important improvement of the defense aid to Israel," Olmert told reporters.

According to the New York Times and the Washington Post, the proposed package of advanced weaponry for Saudi Arabia is expected to eventually total $20 billion. It reportedly includes advanced satellite-guided bombs, upgrades to its fighter jets and new naval vessels. It has reportedly raised concerns in Israel and among its supporters in Congress.

Senior officials who described the package Friday said they believed the administration had resolved those concerns, in part by promising Israel $30.4 billion in military aid over the next decade, a significant increase over what Israel has received in the past 10 years.

In addition to promising an increase in military aid, the Pentagon is also asking the Saudis to accept restrictions on the range, size and location of the satellite-guided bombs, including a commitment not to store the weapons at air bases located nearby Israeli territory, the officials said.

The package and the possible steps to allay Israel's concerns were described to Congress this week, as the administration aimed to test the reaction on Capitol Hill before entering into final negotiations with Saudi officials.

The Saudis had requested that Congress be told about the planned sale, the officials said, in an effort to avoid the kind of bruising fight that occurred on Capitol Hill in the 1980s over proposed arms sales to the kingdom.

Security officials in Jerusalem called the increase in military aid "an unusual achievement." They added that the increase was the primary objective during Prime Minister Ehud Olmert's most recent visit to the U.S. last month.

"In Olmert's meeting with President Bush in Washington, the president agreed to increase military aid by 25 percent to $3 billion per annum for the next 10 years," one diplomatic source reported.

The final details about the new aid package to Israel will be worked out during the visit by U.S. Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs Nicholas Burns to the region, diplomatic sources said, adding that his visit is slated for mid-August. They said Egypt is also expected to receive additional military aid.

Israel and the U.S. still need to determine how much of the military aid Israel will be allowed to change into shekels, in order to purchase locally manufactured defense systems. Currently, Israel is permitted to funnel 26.75 percent of U.S. military aid toward internal weapons deals.

A senior official in the Bush administration said the sizable increase was a result of Israel's need to replace equipment expended during the Second Lebanon War last summer, as well as to maintain its advantage in advanced weaponry in the face of other regional countries' modernizing their forces.

Israeli officials have made specific requests aimed at eliminating concerns that satellite-guided bombs sold to the Saudis could be used against its territory, administration officials said.

Their major concern is not a full-scale Saudi attack, but the possibility that a rogue pilot armed with one of the bombs could attack on his own or that the Saudi government could one day be overthrown and the weapons could fall into the hands of a more radical regime, U.S. officials explained.

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A stench hangs over Majdal Krum, as the greenery is flourishing in a bed of sewage.
Now what?
Despite the latest rally of the stock market, after its sharp fall, the future is still cloudy.
  1.   The vision of a new Midle East... 03:57  |  Realist 29/07/07
  2.   Israel already has RIGHT NOW the one arm it needs - neutron bomb. 04:19  |  Ethan 29/07/07
  3.   business as usual 04:59  |  Michael N 29/07/07
  4.   US ARMING THE SAUDI ENEMY THAT GAVE US 9-11 ???????? 05:12  |  VOICE of MOSHIACH))) 29/07/07
  5.   How profitable for the Caryile 05:54  |  Mark Lincoln 29/07/07
  6.   US IS CHRISTIAN AND ONLY THE SAVED SHALL SURVIVE 06:15  |  VOICE OF THE MESSIAH 29/07/07
  7.   A new arms race....the US must get every contract! 06:16  |  True American 29/07/07
  8.   When did we ever saw Saudi blood fighting to death , 06:16  |  Joseph E . 29/07/07
  9.   US WEAPONS SALE TO SAUDI ARABIA 06:27  |  BRUCE 29/07/07
  10.   #5, Mark Lincoln 06:46  |  Cipora Julianna Kohn 29/07/07
  11.   #5 Voice - stifle yourself. 06:48  |  * BEN JABO 29/07/07
  12.   #7 True American (oy vey, another one) 06:49  |  * BEN JABO 29/07/07
  13.   Saudi`s fund the medrasas` killing seminaries 06:51  |  * BEN JABO 29/07/07
  14.   the only nuclear power in the region.... 06:54  |  bashar 29/07/07
  15.   Israel Independence 06:58  |  Dr MI Barton MA. MBA 29/07/07
  16.   #4 06:59  |  bashar 29/07/07
  17.   USA, a treat to the world 07:20  |  Niva dos Santos 29/07/07
  18.   #14 bashar 07:27  |  * BEN JABO 29/07/07
  19.   #16 Bashar 07:32  |  * BEN JABO 29/07/07
  20.   #16I`M NOT WORRIED,SAUDI PEACE WILL COLLAPSE,USA STUPID TO SELL W 07:33  |  VOICE of MOSHIACH))) 29/07/07
  21.   BEN JABO 07:57  |  JON FEIGENBAUM 29/07/07
  22.   BEN ONE MORE THOUGHT BEFORE BED 08:01  |  JON FEIGENBAUM 29/07/07
  23.   #14,16, bashar 08:04  |  Cipora Julianna Kohn 29/07/07
  24.   What for? They are trying to give Israel away. 08:07  |  simcha 29/07/07
  25.   19, ben 08:11  |  bashar 29/07/07
  26.   Military Keynesianism 08:19  |  Rowan Berkeley 29/07/07
  27.   22, jon & Ben 08:20  |  bashar 29/07/07
  28.   Re: Ethan in Maimi 08:20  |  democrat 29/07/07
  29.   Jon Feigenbum 08:25  |  Cipora Julianna Kohn 29/07/07
  30.   23 08:28  |  bashar 29/07/07
  31.   Nothing but a mercenary state 09:16  |  Yitzhak 29/07/07
  32.   #31, Yitzhak: the fallacy in your argument 09:36  |  Cipora Julianna Kohn 29/07/07
  33.   its good for the usa arms industry its good for george 09:37  |  victor hardman 29/07/07
  34.   Have Olmert , Bush and Saudia slice their wives should they want 09:58  |  Joseph E . 29/07/07
  35.   You`re just jealous because Jews don`t get the bu$ine$$ 10:06  |  keith 29/07/07
  36.   # 24 simcha @ Tsfat / Isael 10:07  |  Joseph E . 29/07/07
  37.   This $20B sale is a retribution against Israel 1000 M16s 10:17  |  Joseph E . 29/07/07
  38.   The worldwide weapons-lobby rules the world 10:19  |  Swiss (Dino) 29/07/07
  39.   # 35 keith , you want bu$ine$$ , then 10:28  |  Joseph E . 29/07/07
  40.   A new ME arms race? 10:32  |  Palestinian Brit 29/07/07
  41.   #38, Dino 10:32  |  Cipora Julianna Kohn 29/07/07
  42.   Great, great Haaretz photo 10:54  |  Clickfool 29/07/07
  43.   A success for the Israeli panhandlers 10:56  |  Clickfool 29/07/07
  44.   # 41 Cipora Julianna Kohn 11:19  |  Swiss (Dino) 29/07/07
  45.   More money! 11:36  |  Silvienne 29/07/07
  46.   #23, Cipora 11:40  |  Silvienne 29/07/07
  47.   #28, Democrat 11:42  |  Silvienne 29/07/07
  48.   #25, Bashar 11:46  |  Silvienne 29/07/07
  49.   #42, Clickfool 11:48  |  Silvienne 29/07/07
  50.   the deceptive flattery behind `Model State` 11:51  |  Joseph E . 29/07/07
  51.   Meet the carlyle group 12:08  |  Dav 29/07/07
  52.   DANGEROUS IDEA 12:14  |  MARCO 29/07/07
  53.   PM:We understand we have no choice... 12:36  |  scanadu 29/07/07
  54.   What are their motives? 12:43  |  Paul 29/07/07
  55.   Hey Palestinian Brit 12:51  |  Tzfonit 29/07/07
  56.   My preferred alternative.... 13:29  |  Burkhardt 29/07/07
  57.   NOTHING GOOD WOULD COME FOR ANYBODY 13:31  |  indrajaya 29/07/07
  58.   Olmert`s statement re "strengthening `moderate` Arab states," is 14:17  |  Reuven 29/07/07
  59.   To indrajaya No. 57 14:19  |  Chris 29/07/07
  60.   A strategy of failure 14:35  |  Jonathan S 29/07/07
  61.   Israel,Globalism and the Saudi Role 14:39  |  Ronnie Wolman 29/07/07
  62.   Iranian bombers soon against Israel 14:51  |  Jonathan S 29/07/07
  63.   #59 Chris and Americas support of Israel 15:01  |  Joel Weltman 29/07/07
  64.   #55 Tzfont 15:24  |  Joel Weltman 29/07/07
  65.   Billion Dolar Arm Aid is not a Solution and Reassurance for Jews 15:29  |  Atilla 29/07/07
  66.   #40 A new ME arms race? 15:31  |  Joel Weltman 29/07/07
  67.   OLMERT IS BUSH`S POODLE 15:33  |  Mitch 29/07/07
  68.   BUNCH OF SCHNORRERS!! US MAKES MONEY. 15:33  |  Yechiel 29/07/07
  69.   To those who cry and moan (eg Clickfool) of US aid to Israel 16:03  |  Conroy 29/07/07
  70.   Joel Weltman#54 16:07  |  Tzfonit 29/07/07
  71.   You are crazy extremists 16:13  |  Mr President 29/07/07
  72.   Saudi, Egyptian, Israeli, Jordianian ETC 16:14  |  Mary 29/07/07
  73.   Doesn`t anyone notice the difference? 16:18  |  Veritas 29/07/07
  74.   Re-equipping Israeli militarily 16:19  |  Chris Linthwaite 29/07/07
  75.   CIPORA Re TOSSI 16:19  |  GABE! 29/07/07
  76.   Now you know why the Saudis and the Israelis have been talking. 16:26  |  Toronto`s Finest 29/07/07
  77.   Troubled by the spin 16:26  |  Tosefta 29/07/07
  78.   I mean WW4 16:26  |  Joel Weltman 29/07/07
  79.   shock, shock 16:38  |  edgar 29/07/07
  80.   Finish the job 16:47  |  W 29/07/07
  81.   # 69 Conroy 16:49  |  Mary 29/07/07
  82.   No one can really claim 16:56  |  Don 29/07/07
  83.   Military aid to Israel - to buy non-American products? 16:58  |  Sal 29/07/07
  84.