All the information given below is info Israel and its annoying stalwarts do not want you to know.
While this is a form of foreign aid, it is important to note that Israel’s total control of Congress has sometimes allowed it to inveigle Congress into transforming “bills due for military aid” into “gifts.”
Here’s a breakdown of how the FMF program works in relation to Israel:
<><>Grants for purchases: The FMF program provides grant funding that Israel uses to purchase defense articles and services from the United States.
<><>Long-term agreement: This funding is part of a 10-year Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the U.S. and Israeli governments, ensuring a consistent level of military assistance. The current MOU allocates $3.3 billion annually for FMF and an additional $500 million for cooperative missile defense programs. Not direct gifts: Israel uses these funds to purchase military equipment and services, essentially using U.S. grant money to buy U.S. goods and support industries.
It is also crucial to be aware that the U.S. may provide additional military assistance to Israel beyond the FMF program, particularly during times of conflict or emergencies, as evidenced by supplemental appropriations following the October 7, 2023, attacks.
In essence, while the U.S. provides substantial US tax dollars for Israel’s defense needs through the FMF program, it’s structured as a turnaround——tax dollars given for “purchases.” Until Israel decides to have “purchases” turned into “gifts” by Congress.
All the information given below is info Israel and its annoying stalwarts do not want you to know.
The Foreign Military Financing (FMF) program, through which the United States provides grants to Israel to purchase American military equipment and services, has historically allowed Israel certain unique privileges compared to other recipients. These privileges have enabled Israel to benefit in several ways:
<><>Offshore Procurement (OSP): For many years, Israel was allowed to convert a portion of its FMF funds into Israeli Shekels (ILS) and spend it within Israel, supporting its domestic defense industry........under the current Memorandum of Understanding (MOU), it historically channeled hundreds of millions of dollars into the Israeli defense industry.
<><>Access to Advanced Technology & Military Edge (QME): FMF has provided Israel access to advanced US military technology and platforms, including the F-35 fighter jet, according to the U.S. Department of State. This has been instrumental in maintaining Israel’s Qualitative Military Edge (QME) over potential adversaries in the region.
<><>Cash Flow Financing: Israel has the advantage of “Cash Flow Financing,” which allows it to make multi-year purchases of defense articles and services without needing to pay the full amount upfront, providing greater financial flexibility.
<><>Direct Commercial Sales (DCS): Unlike most other FMF recipients who must use the Foreign Military Sales (FMS) system (government-to-government sales), Israel is permitted to use FMF for Direct Commercial Sales (DCS). This allows Israel to deal directly with US arms manufacturers, streamlining the acquisition process in certain cases and providing more transparency in some aspects, though DCS notifications are not always public, according to the Center for International Policy.
<><>Expedited Congressional Review: Israel benefits from a shortened congressional review period for proposed arms sales compared to most other countries, allowing for quicker approvals. Plus the ability for Israel to get the Congress to transform “bills for arms” into “gifts.”
<><>Impact on Israel’s defense industry: The FMF program has historically played a vital role in the growth and development of the Israeli defense industry, even though the allowance for converting funds into Israeli Shekels is being phased out.
The need to spend a larger proportion of FMF in the United States has also driven Israeli defense companies to establish operations or partnerships in the US to access these funds and remain competitive, Defense Update says.
Stimson Center-——Israels-Exceptional-Security-Partnership-with-Washington.pdf
* Israel is the largest historical recipient of U.S. foreign assistance, totaling more than $146 billion since 1950, equivalent to $236 billion in 2018 dollars,
Center for International Policy-——Israel - Aerospace and Defense | Privacy Shield-—U.S. Export Control requireme nts are considered a serious challenge by local manufacturer s procuring components that will be integrated in systems for export
The US cannot sell arms to any other country if it would interfere with Israel’s miliraey superiority.