The House of Representatives is currently set to vote on the United States-Israel Strategic Partnership Act of 2014, which was passed unanimously by the Senate in September. The Senate’s bill was sponsored by Senators Barbara Boxer (D-Calif) and Roy Blunt (R- Mo.).
The Times of Israel reports on some of the implications of the bill’s passage:
Following a summer in which the US and Israel tangled over weapons resupplies during and immediately following Operation Protective Edge, the bill would permit an increase of $200 million in the value of US weapons held in Israel, bringing the total to $1.8 billion. The stockpiles in Israel are designed to allow the US quick resupply for its own needs in case of a major Mideast conflict, but can also be used by Israel in the event of an emergency as long as Israel reimburses the US for weapons used.
The bill also requires the president to take steps so that Israel may be included in the top-tier category of the Strategic Trade Authorization Exception. In 2011, the Commerce Department created the exception, which allows 44 countries to qualify for some exceptions to arms export licensing requirements. Israel is currently in the second-tier category, which provides a more restricted list of license-free goods.
Another section authorizes the president to carry out cooperation between the United States and Israel across a range of policy areas, including energy, water, homeland security, agriculture, and alternative fuel technologies. Although the bill does not detail what these sectors entail, it is meant to serve as a framework for future legislation further defining the US-Israel relationship in those fields.
One area of cooperation highlighted by the bill is in the field of energy, with the aim of establishing a U.S.-Israel Energy Center. Towards that end and in line with previous legislation, the first U.S.-Israel Energy Summit was held in September at Tulane University in New Orleans. Sen. Mary Landrieu (D-La.) explained that the partnership was mutually beneficial, saying, “Louisiana and Gulf Coast companies are in a unique position to use their unparalleled expertise in offshore oil and gas development to help one of the United States’ closest allies develop its newly discovered energy resources. We are poised to help Israel secure its energy independence and security for years to come and to boost economic opportunities along America’s working coast.”
More generally, Boxer was quoted by the Times noting, “this bipartisan measure will strengthen cooperation between our two countries on a wide range of issues from defense to energy, ensure that Israel has the resources to defend herself in an emergency, and affirm Israel’s ability to participate in the visa waiver program as long as she meets existing requirements.”
A top-secret memo that was leaked around the time of the Senate vote highlighted that the United States and Israel already “coordinate on cyber issues to an unprecedented degree.”
A House version of the bill introduced by Representatives Ted Deutch (D-Fla.) and Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R-Fla.) passed in March.
[Photo: Cliff / Flickr ]