Itongadol.-Following the official announcement concerning the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) reached between Israel and the United States Tuesday, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called the "unprecedented" deal "historic" and personally thanked US President Barack Obama for the assistance.
"In a short while an historic agreement will be signed by Israel and the United States in Washington DC," Netanyahu\’s statement begins.
"This unprecedented agreement will ensure Israel maintains a strategic military edge over the next decade which is largest military aide package ever given to any other nation."
Netanyahu added that the "agreement will help Israel continue to build its armed forces and continue to improve our anti-missile defense systems," he continued. "Which of course a very important achievement for Israel."
The premier then extended his gratitude to president of the United States and efforts by US lawmakers to come to a bi-partisan agreement on the issue.
"I would like to thank President Obama and his administration on this historic agreement. I also thank the many many our friends in the US Congress, and the American people… whose support cuts across political parties."
"Many in the US understands Israel\’s security investment strengthens stability in the Middle East," Netanyahu added, concluding that the deal "serves not only the Israel\’s security interests, but also the security interests of the United States."
On Tuesday, both countries concluded a landmark aid agreement worth at least $38 billion, the largest pledge to an ally in American history, which will govern their defense relationship through 2028.
The MoU, negotiated over a year by senior officials in the Obama administration and Netanyahu government, is expected to be officially initiated at a signing ceremony later in the eveing at the State Department. US National Security Adviser Susan Rice and her Israeli counterpart, Yaakov Nagel, are expected to attend.
An MoU is no treaty, however: this deal is not a formal legal document, and is not binding on Congress, which was not party to the negotiations and is not privy to details of the concluded deal.