Report: Reduction of U.S. Aid to Israel to be Less than Expected
by Zach Pontz
The incision might not be as deep but it will still be painful as the U.S. has allegedly informed Israel’s Finance Minister, Yuval Steinitz, that it will be cutting aid to the country by $150 million, according to a report by Israel’s Army Radio.
The original number was to be around $250 million, but Washington said that across-the-board cuts in the US budget will be decreased from 8% to 5% allowing for a smaller reduction in aid to Israel.
Newly-confirmed Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel said Tuesday that any cuts would not affect U.S. funding for Israel’s rocket and missile defense programs.
“Secretary Hagel expressed his strong commitment to Israel’s security, including maintaining Israel’s qualitative military edge and continued U.S. support for missile and rocket defense systems, in spite of fiscal constraints,” Pentagon spokesman George Little said in a statement.