Congress has unanimously approved legislation declaring Israel a “major strategic partner” of the United States.
The United States-Israel Strategic Partnership Act of 2014 is viewed as historic because it strengthens the friendship the two nations have enjoyed for nearly 70 years.
The landmark legislation expands cooperation in several areas, like energy, agriculture, defense, and intelligence.
It provides Israel with another $200 million worth of military equipment — a weapons stockpile both nations can use in the event of war.
Israel’s status will be upgraded to expedite trade licensing, and Israeli citizens may be allowed to enter the United States without a visa.
Congressional approval comes at a time when relations between the two countries are at an all-time low.
The White House’s dislike of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is apparent, with administration officials having made disparaging remarks about the Israeli leader in the past.
In addition, many Israelis feel the United States is pressuring the Jewish state to accept further concessions with Hamas, a designated terror group that has pledged to destroy the Jewish state.
Nevertheless, Natan Sharansky, chairman of the Executive of the Jewish Agency for Israel, told CBN News he believes the United States will remain friends with Israel because the nation is the only representative of the free world in the Middle East.
“That’s why inevitably we have and will continue to have strong cooperation between America and Israel,” he explained. “And I have to say that our security cooperation, the cooperation at the levels of our armies and intelligence is very close and very deep.”
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SOURCE: CBN News
Gary Lane
