As Iran deal begins, US and Israel resume talks on defense aid

The U.S. and Israel are resuming talks on an extension of military aid.

The announcement was made Sunday, the same day that the Iran nuclear deal took effect. It also came amid a visit to Israel from top U.S. military officer, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Marine Gen. Joseph Dunford.

{mosads}”This is the first country that I’m visiting on my first trip. It reflects the important relationship the United States has with Israel,” Dunford, who became Joint Chief chairman last month, told Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Jerusalem. 

Netanyahu said the trip was an “expression of the tremendous alliance between Israel and the United States. It’s needed at all times, and especially at this time, when militant Islam is on the march.”

The two countries are looking to agree on a 10-year military aid package, worth $3 billion a year, to extend current U.S. grants to Israel, which are due to expire in 2017, according to The Nation.

Before the suspension in talks, the two sides were close to a new package of grants worth up to $3.7 billion a year, and likely more in the coming years in a bid to counter increased Iranian revenue due to sanctions relief granted under the deal.   

Prime Minister Netanyahu froze those talks during international negotiations of the Iran nuclear deal. 

The meeting also signaled both countries’ attempts to smooth over frayed relations over the Iran nuclear deal, which the U.S. took the lead on negotiating and Israel strongly opposed. 

The deal would lift economic sanctions on Iran in exchange for curbing its nuclear program. Israeli leaders are concerned this pact will empower Iran in the region and fuel its support for terrorist activities. 

“There’s no shortage of challenges, and I think that there’s common agreement that we have to stop this aggression in the region, but specifically the aggression that is aimed at Israel,” Netanyahu said. 

“There’s a lot to talk about — how to bolster our common security interests and Israel’s ability to defend itself, by itself, against these and other threats.” 

Dunford assured Israeli leaders he was “committed” to U.S. and Israeli cooperation to meet the nation’s security challenges. 

“I’m confident that the solution to those challenges is our cooperation and that’s what I’m committed to, and that’s why I’m here today,” he said. 

Dunford also met with Israel’s Defense Minister Moshe Ya’alon and Chief of General Staff of the Israel Defense Forces Lt. Gadi Eizenkot.

“Israel hopes that the discussions we are now engaged in will culminate in a long-term agreement that will dramatically upgrade Israel’s ability to defend itself by itself against any threat and enable Israel to address the enormous challenges we now face in the region,” Israeli Ambassador to the U.S. Ron Dermer said in a Facebook post.  

Dermer also said the defense aid discussions would be pursued in Ya’alon’s talks in Washington later this month, and during a White House meeting between Netanyahu and President Obama scheduled for Nov. 9. 

Dunford’s visit came as the Iran deal took effect, with Iran making preparations to meet the requirements under the deal and the U.S. preparing to lift sanctions on Iran’s nuclear program. 

“With the nuclear deal now moving ahead, Israel is also moving ahead, hoping to forge a common policy with the United States to address the continuing dangers posed by Iran,” Dermer said.

The two countries also launched a two-week multinational military exercise known as “Blue Flag,” which is held twice a year to practice planning and execution of air force operations, according to The Nation. 

Dunford visited Jordan on Monday, to meet with King Abdullah II, to discuss U.S.-Jordanian ties and regional challenges.