Congress took a crucial step last week toward ensuring the safety and security of our nation’s closest ally in the Middle East. In a time of unprecedented threats, challenges and instability in the region, Congress voted overwhelmingly to approve increased security assistance to the State of Israel.

In line with America’s new 10-year, $30 billion aid agreement with the Jewish state, the Senate on Thursday – and the House the week before – approved $170 million in increased security assistance to Israel. The funding was included as part of the Supplemental Appropriations Acts of Fiscal Years 2008 and 2009.

With Congress expected to enact a Continuing Resolution at the end of this fiscal year, keeping all programs, including aid to Israel, at fiscal year 2008 levels, bipartisan Congressional leaders decided to include Israel’s aid increase in the supplemental.

The increased funding covers the first installment of a new 10-year, $30 billion agreement reached last August, where Israel is slated to receive $2.55 billion for fiscal year 2009, up from $2.38 billion in fiscal year 2008.

The aid increase is vital to ensuring that Israel maintains its qualitative military edge over those adversaries that threaten it and actively work to undermine U.S. interests in the region. In helping Israel to face a potential nuclear-armed Iran, persistent rocket attacks from Gaza and a rearmed Hizballah, U.S. security assistance is the single most tangible expression of American support for Israel.

The effort to secure this vital increase in American aid to our ally Israel could not have happened without the active support of the bipartisan leadership of the House and Senate and AIPAC applauds their effort.

This entry was posted on Monday, June 30th, 2008 at 4:39 pm and is filed under Politics, Foreign Policy .