Biden decided to not only link military aid to Israel to a large package of aid, over$ 60 billion to Ukraine, but also a large package of various priorities, including getting illegal aliens processed faster, spending in the Pacific and” charitable aid” to the’ Palestinians’. However, the media feels free to run headlines like this. ‘ The White House is asking for virtually$ 106 billion for Israel, Ukraine and the border’– NPRIn order of priorities, the money is generally going to Ukraine. The White House’s breakdown runs something like this,$ 61.4 billion for military and economic assistance to Ukraine,$ 14 billion to hire more border patrol officers, asylum processors and judges,$ 4 billion for foreign aid in the Pacific and$ 14 billion for Israel. The Israel figure however seems to be inflated by rolling in embassy security expenditures. The military aid for Israel is around$ 10 billion with an additional”$ 3.7 billion for the State Department to strengthen Israel’s military and enhance US Embassy security”. I’m not certain how the State Department is strengthening Israel’s military. Securing U. S. embassies in the region is certainly a crucial priority, but it’s no aid to Israel. Rolling embassy security funding in and pretending it’s part of an aid package to Israel is dishonest, and yet almost the entire media has quoted a$ 14 billion aid to Israel figure. The official budget letter admits” the request will also help the Administration enhance embassy security by sustaining Mission Israel and our embassies in neighboring countries “. Strengthening security on embassies in Egypt, Jordan and say, Libya, is a good idea. It’s no international aid to Israel. Even that$ 10 billion figure creates the impression of a large check being sent to Israel. What it really means is allocation of military equipment and ammo from British defense contractors. And in some cases, it really means money sent to defense contractors to improve their functionality. ” For an extra amount for” Operation and Maintenance, Defense – Wide”,$ 4, 400, 000, 000, to remain accessible until September 30, 2025, to respond to the situation in Israel and for related expenses: Provided, That amounts made available by under this heading shall be available for transfer to accounts under the headings” Operation and Maintenance””, Procurement””, Research, Development, Test and Evaluation”, and” Revolving and Management Funds” for replacement, through innovative procurement or repair of existing unserviceable equipment, of defense articles from the stocks of the Department of Defense, and for reimbursement for defense services of the Department of Defense and military education and training, provided to or identified for provision to Israel or to foreign countries that have provided support to Israel at the request of the United States :”$ 800 million would be used to build up local capacity. This request would provide$ 801 million to the Procurement of Ammunition, Army account in the Department of Defense. Funds would be used to: improve ammunition plants and equipment in order to increase capacity, and accelerate the production of equipment in order to more quickly replenish defense stocks. So it’s$ 800 million that’s going to build up U. S. ammunition plants and make them readier to produce at a more rapid capacity. ( This will be more likely benefit Ukraine than Israel. We’ve been running out supplying Ukraine, not Israel. ) I support increasing our production capacity, but when people think of international aid for Israel, this is not what they consider. Another$ 200 million is being used in a similar manner. The Department of Defense’s Defense Production Act Purchases Account would receive$ 199 million from this request. To enable quicker production of weapons and equipment, funds would be used to reduce business base constraints. Once more, this will benefit Israel. It will benefit Ukraine. If we start a war, it will benefit us. However, money is being used to increase this area’s defense contractors’ capacity. To resupply Iron Dome, there is$ 4 billion available. Additionally,$ 1.2 billion will be used to support research on Iron Beam, a defense mechanism against close-range rocket attacks. Israel gains immediate martial advantages from those. This is not uncommon. It demonstrates how international aid to Israel operates. In contrast to many other nations, Israel receives primarily assistance from British defense contractors in the form of equipment transfers, ammunition resupply, and credit use. All of those are helpful, but they are not the enormous check for$ 10 billion that some people imagine. That’s what it actually looks like when you hear about$ X billion a year in foreign aid.
Biden decided to not only link military aid to Israel to a giant package of aid, over $60 billion to Ukraine, but also a huge package of other priorities, including getting illegal aliens processed faster, spending in the Pacific and “humanitarian aid” to the ‘Palestinians’.Meanwhile, the media feels free to run headlines like this.’The White House is asking for almost $106 billion for Israel, Ukraine and the border’ – NPRIn order of priorities, the money is mostly going to Ukraine.The White House’s breakdown runs something like this, $61.4 billion for military and economic assistance to Ukraine, $14 billion to hire more border patrol officers, asylum processors and judges, $4 billion for foreign aid in the Pacific and $14 billion for Israel. The Israel figure is inflated by adding embassy security costs. Military aid to Israel is $10 billion, with an additional $3.75 billion for the State Department for strengthening Israel’s army and enhancing US Embassy security. I’m not certain how the State Department strengthens Israel’s militaries. Securing U.S. embassies in the region is obviously a vital priority, but it’s not aid to Israel.Rolling embassy security funding in and pretending it’s part of an aid package to Israel is dishonest, and yet virtually the entire media has quoted a $14 billion aid to Israel figure.The official budget letter admits “the request will also help the Administration enhance embassy security by sustaining Mission Israel and our embassies in neighboring countries.”Strengthening security on embassies in Egypt, Jordan and say, Libya, is a good idea. It’s not foreign assistance to Israel.Even the $10 billion figure gives the impression that a large check is being sent to Israel. It’s actually an allocation of military equipment and ammunition from American defense contractors. In some cases, the money is sent to defense contractors in order to improve their functionality. The funds would be used to improve ammunition plants, equipment and production to increase capacity. They would also be used to accelerate production to replenish defense stocks more quickly. This will more likely benefit Ukraine rather than Israel. We have been running out of supplies for Ukraine, not Israel. This request would provide $199 millions to the Defense Production Act Purchases Account at the Department of Defense. The funds would be used to alleviate industrial base constraints in order to increase the production of weapons and other equipment. It will help Ukraine. It will help us if there is a war. It’s money that is being used to improve defense contractor capacity. There are $4 billion to resupply Iron Dome. And $1.2 billion for research on Iron Beam – a system that stops short-range rocket attacks. These provide direct military benefits for Israel. This is not unusual. It’s the way foreign aid to Israel is done. Aid to Israel is different from other countries. It mainly involves aid to American defense contractors and spending credits that Israel can utilize, as well as equipment and weapons transfers and ammo supply. All of these are important, but they don’t amount to the $10 billion check that some people imagine.
