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Israeli media reported earlier this month that Washington had set a two-week deadline for the expected $ 2.74 billion US-Israel arms deal.
An Israeli official confirmed on Tuesday that the military armaments committee had approved an armaments deal involving a new squadron of Lockheed Martin-built F-35 fighter jets, KC-46 air-to-air and strategic military transport aircraft, and various bombs.
“The ministerial armaments committee has approved the purchase of a new F-35 squadron, four new supply aircraft, and a large quantity of ammunition,” the Israeli official told Reuters anonymously.
Israeli Defense Minister Benny Ganj backed the deal, but the finance ministry initially opposed it over inter-budgetary concerns, which were eventually rejected.
Funding for the $ 2.74 billion deal will come in part from $ 3.8 billion in military aid to Israel each year. Many opponents of the deal have said the advance would lead to high-interest rates levied on US banks.
