11 oct 2018
In the letter, she listed a series of successes at the UN, including speaking out resolutely against dictatorships in Iran, Syria, Venezuela, Cuba and Russia.
Haley added that her resignation would be effective in January 2019, in order to give Trump enough time to select a replacement, and to give the Senate time to consider his selection.
According to reports, Trump along with Haley, will decide in two to three weeks on the replacement of the US envoy to the UN.
Among those considered for the position is Egyptian-born former deputy national security adviser Dina Powell.
Additionally, Trump said that his daughter, Ivanka Trump, “would be incredible, but that doesn’t mean I’d pick her because you’d be accused of nepotism, even though I’m not sure there is anybody more competent in the world.”
However, Ivanka posted a tweet on her Twitter account and denied speculation: “It is an honor to serve in the White House alongside so many great colleagues and I know that the president will nominate a formidable replacement for Ambassador Haley. That replacement will not be me.”
Haley stressed, “I expect to continue to speak out from time to time on important public policy matter, but I will surely not be a candidate for any office in 2020.”
She said, “There’s no personal reason, but I think it’s just very important for us to understand when it’s time to step aside,” noting that she had served two intense jobs back to back for the last eight years.
Haley added that her resignation would be effective in January 2019, in order to give Trump enough time to select a replacement, and to give the Senate time to consider his selection.
According to reports, Trump along with Haley, will decide in two to three weeks on the replacement of the US envoy to the UN.
Among those considered for the position is Egyptian-born former deputy national security adviser Dina Powell.
Additionally, Trump said that his daughter, Ivanka Trump, “would be incredible, but that doesn’t mean I’d pick her because you’d be accused of nepotism, even though I’m not sure there is anybody more competent in the world.”
However, Ivanka posted a tweet on her Twitter account and denied speculation: “It is an honor to serve in the White House alongside so many great colleagues and I know that the president will nominate a formidable replacement for Ambassador Haley. That replacement will not be me.”
Haley stressed, “I expect to continue to speak out from time to time on important public policy matter, but I will surely not be a candidate for any office in 2020.”
She said, “There’s no personal reason, but I think it’s just very important for us to understand when it’s time to step aside,” noting that she had served two intense jobs back to back for the last eight years.
The Palestinian Representative Office at the United States in Washington D.C. has officially shut down, Wednesday, after the deadline by the Trump Administration for closing it went into effect at 4:30 PM.
Dozens of Palestinians and peace activists stood in front of the Palestinian Mission’s office in protest of the U.S. decision, and several speakers condemned the escalating hostilities by President Donald Trump and his Administration against the basic and historic human rights of the Palestinian people, and its support to Israel’s illegal occupation of Palestine, and it’s denial of internationally-guaranteed Palestinian Rights.
In a previous statement, Dr. Riyad al-Maliki, the Palestinian Foreign Affairs Minister, said the sign that indicates that the building in the Palestinian Diplomatic Mission in the US will be removed, but the Palestinian flag will remain because the building is a private property.
“The owners of the building can keep any flag up, as long as they want to, unless the U.S. government makes it its mission to remove the flag,” he said, “Our team at the Palestinian Mission has been frequently asked to remove the flag, but we kept it because it is a private building.”
He concluded by wondering whether “the next battle waged by the United States against the basic Palestinian rights will now be about the Palestinian flag!”
Dozens of Palestinians and peace activists stood in front of the Palestinian Mission’s office in protest of the U.S. decision, and several speakers condemned the escalating hostilities by President Donald Trump and his Administration against the basic and historic human rights of the Palestinian people, and its support to Israel’s illegal occupation of Palestine, and it’s denial of internationally-guaranteed Palestinian Rights.
In a previous statement, Dr. Riyad al-Maliki, the Palestinian Foreign Affairs Minister, said the sign that indicates that the building in the Palestinian Diplomatic Mission in the US will be removed, but the Palestinian flag will remain because the building is a private property.
“The owners of the building can keep any flag up, as long as they want to, unless the U.S. government makes it its mission to remove the flag,” he said, “Our team at the Palestinian Mission has been frequently asked to remove the flag, but we kept it because it is a private building.”
He concluded by wondering whether “the next battle waged by the United States against the basic Palestinian rights will now be about the Palestinian flag!”
10 oct 2018
The US President Donald Trump’s peace plan will strongly reflect Washington's commitment to Israel's security, the US Midlle East Envoy Jason Greenblatt has said.
In an interview published Monday by the English-language Times of Israel news site, presidential special envoy Jason Greenblatt said the plan would "be heavily focused on Israeli security needs".
"But we also want to be fair to the Palestinians. We have tried hard to find a good balance," he claimed. "Each side will find things in this plan that they don't like."
The peace plan, Greenblatt said, "will include a resolution to all of the core issues, including the refugee issue".
He said that it would not propose a Palestinian-Jordanian confederation as a possible solution to the conflict.
"We're not looking at a confederation model," Greenblatt said in Monday's interview.
US President Donald Trump said in September that he would unveil a new peace plan within months.
In an interview published Monday by the English-language Times of Israel news site, presidential special envoy Jason Greenblatt said the plan would "be heavily focused on Israeli security needs".
"But we also want to be fair to the Palestinians. We have tried hard to find a good balance," he claimed. "Each side will find things in this plan that they don't like."
The peace plan, Greenblatt said, "will include a resolution to all of the core issues, including the refugee issue".
He said that it would not propose a Palestinian-Jordanian confederation as a possible solution to the conflict.
"We're not looking at a confederation model," Greenblatt said in Monday's interview.
US President Donald Trump said in September that he would unveil a new peace plan within months.
9 oct 2018
The New York Times reports that Rick Gates asked Petah Tikva-based Psy-Group to prepare proposals to launch a smear campaign against Hillary Clinton and use fake online accounts to sway Republican delegates and undecided voters in Trump's favor.
Rick Gates, a former aide in US President Donald Trump's campaign, sought a proposal from an Israeli intelligence firm for a smear campaign against Trump's Republican rivals as well as his Democratic opponent Hillary Clinton during the 2016 elections, the New York Times reported on Monday.
According to the Times, Gates wanted to mount a disruption effort using fake online identifies, social media manipulations and intelligence gathering to win the elections.
The investigative report, written by Times journalists Mark Mazzetti, Ronen Bergman, David D. Kirkpatrick and Maggie Haberman, presented a document dated April 2016, which said Israeli company Psy-Group "was asked to provide a proposal ... for campaign intelligence and influence services."
The company proposed to employ "veteran intelligence officers" to use various methods to influence some 5,000 Republican delegates ahead of the Republican National Convention by obtaining "unique intel" via different means, including "covert sources."
Psy-Group employees would then study the leanings of the delegates and use "authentic looking" fake online identities to send specially tailored messages to up to 2,500 of the delegates to sway them in favor of Trump, according to the documents obtained by the Times.
Among other things, the bogus online personas would warn Republican delegates of Senator Ted Cruz's "ulterior motives or hidden plans," appearing to be former Cruz supporters or other influential figures sharing the same views and ideology as the target.
Pricing the smear campaign at over $3 million, Psy-Group proposed to double its size by hiring some 50 new employees, including American citizens, and rent new office spaces, the Times reported, quoting former employees of the company.
The proposal to sabotage Clinton included information about her and her close associates obtained through “complementary intelligence activities,” according to the interviews conducted by The New York Times.
Rick Gates, a former aide in US President Donald Trump's campaign, sought a proposal from an Israeli intelligence firm for a smear campaign against Trump's Republican rivals as well as his Democratic opponent Hillary Clinton during the 2016 elections, the New York Times reported on Monday.
According to the Times, Gates wanted to mount a disruption effort using fake online identifies, social media manipulations and intelligence gathering to win the elections.
The investigative report, written by Times journalists Mark Mazzetti, Ronen Bergman, David D. Kirkpatrick and Maggie Haberman, presented a document dated April 2016, which said Israeli company Psy-Group "was asked to provide a proposal ... for campaign intelligence and influence services."
The company proposed to employ "veteran intelligence officers" to use various methods to influence some 5,000 Republican delegates ahead of the Republican National Convention by obtaining "unique intel" via different means, including "covert sources."
Psy-Group employees would then study the leanings of the delegates and use "authentic looking" fake online identities to send specially tailored messages to up to 2,500 of the delegates to sway them in favor of Trump, according to the documents obtained by the Times.
Among other things, the bogus online personas would warn Republican delegates of Senator Ted Cruz's "ulterior motives or hidden plans," appearing to be former Cruz supporters or other influential figures sharing the same views and ideology as the target.
Pricing the smear campaign at over $3 million, Psy-Group proposed to double its size by hiring some 50 new employees, including American citizens, and rent new office spaces, the Times reported, quoting former employees of the company.
The proposal to sabotage Clinton included information about her and her close associates obtained through “complementary intelligence activities,” according to the interviews conducted by The New York Times.
An additional Psy-Group proposal suggested to take advantage of the already existing inner divisions between Trump’s opponents and their campaigns, as well as target “undecided voters in battleground states”—again through fraudulent online profiles.
The secretive project was labeled “Project Rome,” and referred to Trump, Clinton and Cruz as Lion, Forest and Bear respectively.
According to The New York Times, the alleged conspiracy was first unveiled during Robert Mueller's investigatigation into Russia's interference with the 2016 election campaign, when Mueller's staff obtained copies of Psy-Group's proposals.
Gates first heard about the Israeli intelligence firm in March 2016, shortly after joining Trump's presidential campaign, during a meeting with George Birnbaum—a Republican advisor with connections to Israeli government officials.
The secretive project was labeled “Project Rome,” and referred to Trump, Clinton and Cruz as Lion, Forest and Bear respectively.
According to The New York Times, the alleged conspiracy was first unveiled during Robert Mueller's investigatigation into Russia's interference with the 2016 election campaign, when Mueller's staff obtained copies of Psy-Group's proposals.
Gates first heard about the Israeli intelligence firm in March 2016, shortly after joining Trump's presidential campaign, during a meeting with George Birnbaum—a Republican advisor with connections to Israeli government officials.
Rick Gates
This year, Gates pleaded guilty to several corruption charges, as part of the Mueller investigation, which included financial fraud and tax evasion.
According to an interview Birnbaum gave to The New York Times through his lawyer, Gates believed technology in general and social media in particular would be the best tools for manipulating the Republican delegates into favoring Trump over Cruz.
“He was interested in finding the technology to achieve what they were looking for,” Birnbaum said.
The report noted it is unclear whether Trump campaign eventually used the services of Psy-Group or whether the proposals in question violated American laws. Also, it is believed that Gates lost interest in the project once other campaign advisors came up with other social media strategies.
Nevertheless, Trump is reported to have met with the intelligence firm’s representatives on August 3, 2016, at Trump Tower, where Joel Zamel, the founder and one of the owners of Psy-Group, presented Trump and his aides the general outline of the proposals.
Zamel was questioned about the August 2016 meeting by Mueller's investigators. Additionally, "at least two FBI agents working on the inquiry" traveled to Israel to interview Psy-Group employees, and this year, after receiving a US federal government court order, the Israel Police seized the company’s computers. The company is now in the process of being liquidated.
Zamel’s attorney said his client never discussed “specific proposals” with Trump or anyone working for his campaign.
Despite this, Zamel was reportedly paid some $2 million after the election by one of Trump's associates, George Nader—advisor to the United Arab Emirates’ crown prince.
The New York Times writes that when questioned about the payment, Zamel and Nader—who was also present at the 2016 meeting—gave different accounts as to why the payment was made in the first place. During the meeting at Trump Tower, Nader had allegedly supported Zamel’s proposal due to UAE’s desire to put Trump in office.
The Mueller investigation is currently looking into the payment’s initial intent. The investigation is also trying to establish whether any other countries, besides Russia, had interfered with the 2016 elections in order to assist Trump, report stresses.
Nader has reportedly been questioned in connection with the case by authorities in Washington DC, New York, Atlanta and Tel Aviv.
This year, Gates pleaded guilty to several corruption charges, as part of the Mueller investigation, which included financial fraud and tax evasion.
According to an interview Birnbaum gave to The New York Times through his lawyer, Gates believed technology in general and social media in particular would be the best tools for manipulating the Republican delegates into favoring Trump over Cruz.
“He was interested in finding the technology to achieve what they were looking for,” Birnbaum said.
The report noted it is unclear whether Trump campaign eventually used the services of Psy-Group or whether the proposals in question violated American laws. Also, it is believed that Gates lost interest in the project once other campaign advisors came up with other social media strategies.
Nevertheless, Trump is reported to have met with the intelligence firm’s representatives on August 3, 2016, at Trump Tower, where Joel Zamel, the founder and one of the owners of Psy-Group, presented Trump and his aides the general outline of the proposals.
Zamel was questioned about the August 2016 meeting by Mueller's investigators. Additionally, "at least two FBI agents working on the inquiry" traveled to Israel to interview Psy-Group employees, and this year, after receiving a US federal government court order, the Israel Police seized the company’s computers. The company is now in the process of being liquidated.
Zamel’s attorney said his client never discussed “specific proposals” with Trump or anyone working for his campaign.
Despite this, Zamel was reportedly paid some $2 million after the election by one of Trump's associates, George Nader—advisor to the United Arab Emirates’ crown prince.
The New York Times writes that when questioned about the payment, Zamel and Nader—who was also present at the 2016 meeting—gave different accounts as to why the payment was made in the first place. During the meeting at Trump Tower, Nader had allegedly supported Zamel’s proposal due to UAE’s desire to put Trump in office.
The Mueller investigation is currently looking into the payment’s initial intent. The investigation is also trying to establish whether any other countries, besides Russia, had interfered with the 2016 elections in order to assist Trump, report stresses.
Nader has reportedly been questioned in connection with the case by authorities in Washington DC, New York, Atlanta and Tel Aviv.
4 oct 2018
The Hamas Movement said that the US administration’s decision to withdraw from the Vienna protocol on dispute resolution reflected its political isolation.
“The US administration’s withdrawal from the Vienna protocol on dispute resolution is evidence of its increasing isolation resulting from its reckless and imbalanced policies,” Hamas spokesman Sami Abu Zuhri said in Twitter remarks.
US national security adviser John Bolton announced on Wednesday that the US was withdrawing from the "optional protocol" in the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations. He said it follows a case brought by Palestine at the International Court of Justice, challenging the US embassy's move to Jerusalem.
"I am announcing that the president has decided that the United States will withdraw from the optional protocol and dispute resolution to the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations," Bolton said.
"This is in connection with a case brought by the so-called state of Palestine, naming the United States as the defendant, challenging our move of our embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem."
Recently, the State of Palestine has filed a lawsuit against the US at the International Court of Justice (ICJ), the main judicial body of the UN, for violating international law by moving its embassy in Israel to the occupied city of Jerusalem.
Foreign Minister Riyad Malki said last Saturday in a statement that the case was based on Palestine’s membership in the 1961 Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations that defines a framework for diplomatic relations between independent countries, specifically the Optional Protocol concerning the Compulsory Settlement of Disputes.
He explained the foreign ministry, in preparing its case, submitted a declaration recognizing the jurisdiction of the ICJ to settle all disputes that have come up or may come up as per the decision of the UN Security Council and the procedures and statute of the Court.
Malki said that based on the procedures to file a lawsuit with the ICJ, he sent a letter last May to the US State Department asking it not to move its embassy to Jerusalem because this step would violate the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations and Security Council resolutions.
He added that due to failure of the US to respond to the letter and its non-compliance with international law, it was informed in a written memorandum dated July 4 of the existence of a legal dispute as per the rules and procedures of the ICJ.
“The US administration’s withdrawal from the Vienna protocol on dispute resolution is evidence of its increasing isolation resulting from its reckless and imbalanced policies,” Hamas spokesman Sami Abu Zuhri said in Twitter remarks.
US national security adviser John Bolton announced on Wednesday that the US was withdrawing from the "optional protocol" in the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations. He said it follows a case brought by Palestine at the International Court of Justice, challenging the US embassy's move to Jerusalem.
"I am announcing that the president has decided that the United States will withdraw from the optional protocol and dispute resolution to the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations," Bolton said.
"This is in connection with a case brought by the so-called state of Palestine, naming the United States as the defendant, challenging our move of our embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem."
Recently, the State of Palestine has filed a lawsuit against the US at the International Court of Justice (ICJ), the main judicial body of the UN, for violating international law by moving its embassy in Israel to the occupied city of Jerusalem.
Foreign Minister Riyad Malki said last Saturday in a statement that the case was based on Palestine’s membership in the 1961 Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations that defines a framework for diplomatic relations between independent countries, specifically the Optional Protocol concerning the Compulsory Settlement of Disputes.
He explained the foreign ministry, in preparing its case, submitted a declaration recognizing the jurisdiction of the ICJ to settle all disputes that have come up or may come up as per the decision of the UN Security Council and the procedures and statute of the Court.
Malki said that based on the procedures to file a lawsuit with the ICJ, he sent a letter last May to the US State Department asking it not to move its embassy to Jerusalem because this step would violate the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations and Security Council resolutions.
He added that due to failure of the US to respond to the letter and its non-compliance with international law, it was informed in a written memorandum dated July 4 of the existence of a legal dispute as per the rules and procedures of the ICJ.
|
US President Donald Trump has decided to withdraw from the optional protocol and dispute resolution to the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations, in connection to a case challenging the transfer of the US embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem, US national security adviser John Bolton said, Wednesday.
“This is in connection with a case brought by the so-called state of Palestine, naming the United States as the defendant, challenging our move of our embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem,” Bolton said, , according to the PNN.. “I would like to stress that the United States remains a party to the Vienna Basic Treaty on Diplomatic Relations and we expect all parties to respect their international obligations under the Treaty.” |
In December, US President Donald Trump declared Jerusalem as the capital of Israel, and ordered the transfer of his country’s embassy in Israel from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem and opened the new embassy in May.
The Palestinian ministry of Foreign Affairs commented by saying the announcement reaffirms the administration’s disdain towards international law and the rules-based international order.
“This administration is willfully disrupting and undermining the international order because of its blind support to Israel’s illegal colonial policies, thus advancing this hostile agenda at the expense of global cooperation and protecting the standing and influence of international norms,” the ministry said in a statement.
“The State of Palestine exercised its right to defend itself through legal means by resorting to the International Court of Justice on the issue of the illegal US embassy move to our capital, Jerusalem,” statement added.
“This step was based on the compulsory jurisdiction of Court, as stipulated in Article I of the Additional Protocol. The decision of the US administration to pull out of the Additional Protocol reaffirms its rejection of accountability and determination to be above the law, using false pretexts of politicization and recklessly attacking the credibility the world’s most prestigious courts. This move also reconfirms worldwide fears about its hostile and isolationist attitude, which threaten the international order with yet more disruption.”
The Palestinian leadership said it will continue to defend our people’s rights against all threats posed by Israel’s illegal colonial policies and States that support and adopt them.
“We will do so in line with international law and using available international conflict-resolution mechanisms. Our actions are anchored in our commitment to and respect for international law and existing international mechanisms. It is also based on our conviction that no one person or country is above the law and that accountability is a cornerstone of ensuring and protecting international peace and security. It is now rather obvious that the current US administration believes it is above the law and beyond the reach of accountability. This reckless attitude is a challenge to the international order; one that Palestine and the rest of the international community must face with clarity of vision and determination,” it concluded.
The Palestinian ministry of Foreign Affairs commented by saying the announcement reaffirms the administration’s disdain towards international law and the rules-based international order.
“This administration is willfully disrupting and undermining the international order because of its blind support to Israel’s illegal colonial policies, thus advancing this hostile agenda at the expense of global cooperation and protecting the standing and influence of international norms,” the ministry said in a statement.
“The State of Palestine exercised its right to defend itself through legal means by resorting to the International Court of Justice on the issue of the illegal US embassy move to our capital, Jerusalem,” statement added.
“This step was based on the compulsory jurisdiction of Court, as stipulated in Article I of the Additional Protocol. The decision of the US administration to pull out of the Additional Protocol reaffirms its rejection of accountability and determination to be above the law, using false pretexts of politicization and recklessly attacking the credibility the world’s most prestigious courts. This move also reconfirms worldwide fears about its hostile and isolationist attitude, which threaten the international order with yet more disruption.”
The Palestinian leadership said it will continue to defend our people’s rights against all threats posed by Israel’s illegal colonial policies and States that support and adopt them.
“We will do so in line with international law and using available international conflict-resolution mechanisms. Our actions are anchored in our commitment to and respect for international law and existing international mechanisms. It is also based on our conviction that no one person or country is above the law and that accountability is a cornerstone of ensuring and protecting international peace and security. It is now rather obvious that the current US administration believes it is above the law and beyond the reach of accountability. This reckless attitude is a challenge to the international order; one that Palestine and the rest of the international community must face with clarity of vision and determination,” it concluded.
3 oct 2018
A billboard has just gone up in Ohio, that says: “$10 million a day to Israel? We need that money in America.”
The billboard is located in Richland County on US 30, MLK Expressway.
If Americans Knew erects billboards around the United States to tell Americans how much of their money goes to Israel,as U.S. media rarely reports this.
For example, legislation before Congress, today, will give Israel $38 billion over the next 10 years – the largest military aid package in U.S. history – yet, no U.S. mainstream media have told Americans that this bill even exists.
If Americans Knew is a nonpartisan, nonprofit American organization which provides information on Israel-Palestine to the American public, with particular emphasis on the U.S. connection.
The founder and executive director, Alison Weir, is the author of the best-selling book, Against Our Better Judgment: The Hidden History of How the U.S. Was Used to Create Israel.
Concerned Americans around the country frequently help choose the locations and fundraise for the billboards.
Israel partisans often try to pressure billboard companies into removing such billboards.
~Days of Palestine
The billboard is located in Richland County on US 30, MLK Expressway.
If Americans Knew erects billboards around the United States to tell Americans how much of their money goes to Israel,as U.S. media rarely reports this.
For example, legislation before Congress, today, will give Israel $38 billion over the next 10 years – the largest military aid package in U.S. history – yet, no U.S. mainstream media have told Americans that this bill even exists.
If Americans Knew is a nonpartisan, nonprofit American organization which provides information on Israel-Palestine to the American public, with particular emphasis on the U.S. connection.
The founder and executive director, Alison Weir, is the author of the best-selling book, Against Our Better Judgment: The Hidden History of How the U.S. Was Used to Create Israel.
Concerned Americans around the country frequently help choose the locations and fundraise for the billboards.
Israel partisans often try to pressure billboard companies into removing such billboards.
~Days of Palestine
President Donald Trump has complained that the US is “subsidizing” the military of Middle East ally Saudi Arabia at the same time as his administration announced the launch of a campaign to shell out $38 billion in military aid for Israel.
Speaking at a West Virginia rally for local candidates of his Republican Party on Saturday, Trump said: “When you have wealthy countries like Saudi Arabia, like Japan, like South Korea, why are we subsidizing their military?”
“They’ll pay us. The problem is nobody ever asks.”
He added that he had spoken to Saudi Arabia’s King Salman on Saturday to make the same point.
Saudi Arabia and Japan are major buyers of US-made weaponry, and the US provides intelligence and aerial refueling support to a Saudi-led coalition fighting rebels in Yemen.
At the same time, the US State Department Spokesperson Heather Nauert said on Tuesday: “As we enter the new fiscal year, the ten-year period of the $38 billion Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) signed by the United States and Israel in 2016 begins.”
“Under the terms of the MOU, the United States will set funding for Israel at levels of $3.3 billion in Foreign Military Financing and $500 million for cooperative programs for missile defense over each of the next ten years, a significant increase enabling Israel to acquire additional advanced military capabilities from the United States that will, over time, enhance Israel’s security and strengthen our bilateral relationship,” added Nauert.
“Our implementation of this historic MOU reflects the enduring and unshakable commitment of the President, this Administration, and the American people to Israel's security,” she stated. “Israel is a valuable and capable ally to the United States that today faces dangerously escalating regional threats, first and foremost from the Iranian regime's sponsorship of terrorist groups seeking to attack not only Israel but also American interests.”
“Israel is also threatened by the reckless proliferation of destabilizing weapons systems into the region that increase the possibility of an escalated conflict in an already dangerous and volatile theater”, she claimed.
“The United States unconditionally affirms Israel's right to self-defense, and this MOU is a concrete demonstration of our commitment to Israel's capacity to defend itself with a qualitative military edge over all potential regional adversaries.”
Speaking at a West Virginia rally for local candidates of his Republican Party on Saturday, Trump said: “When you have wealthy countries like Saudi Arabia, like Japan, like South Korea, why are we subsidizing their military?”
“They’ll pay us. The problem is nobody ever asks.”
He added that he had spoken to Saudi Arabia’s King Salman on Saturday to make the same point.
Saudi Arabia and Japan are major buyers of US-made weaponry, and the US provides intelligence and aerial refueling support to a Saudi-led coalition fighting rebels in Yemen.
At the same time, the US State Department Spokesperson Heather Nauert said on Tuesday: “As we enter the new fiscal year, the ten-year period of the $38 billion Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) signed by the United States and Israel in 2016 begins.”
“Under the terms of the MOU, the United States will set funding for Israel at levels of $3.3 billion in Foreign Military Financing and $500 million for cooperative programs for missile defense over each of the next ten years, a significant increase enabling Israel to acquire additional advanced military capabilities from the United States that will, over time, enhance Israel’s security and strengthen our bilateral relationship,” added Nauert.
“Our implementation of this historic MOU reflects the enduring and unshakable commitment of the President, this Administration, and the American people to Israel's security,” she stated. “Israel is a valuable and capable ally to the United States that today faces dangerously escalating regional threats, first and foremost from the Iranian regime's sponsorship of terrorist groups seeking to attack not only Israel but also American interests.”
“Israel is also threatened by the reckless proliferation of destabilizing weapons systems into the region that increase the possibility of an escalated conflict in an already dangerous and volatile theater”, she claimed.
“The United States unconditionally affirms Israel's right to self-defense, and this MOU is a concrete demonstration of our commitment to Israel's capacity to defend itself with a qualitative military edge over all potential regional adversaries.”
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