US Secretary of State Antony Blinken plans to warn Israel against continued Chinese investments in the country’s infrastructure and hi-tech industry when he meets with Foreign Minister Yair Lapid in Washington on Wednesday.

“We will be candid with our Israeli friends over risks to our shared national security interests that come with close cooperation with China,” a senior State Department official told reporters during a briefing ahead of the meeting.

Blinken is also expected to meet with Emirati Foreign Minister Sheikh Abdullah Bin Zayed Al Nahyan on Wednesday.

The US has been concerned about the UAE’s use of Chinese Huawei Technologies in its communication system in light of its pending sale of advanced F-35 fighter jets to the Emirates, but when speaking of China it focused only on its concern with Israel.

The highlight of the day is expected to be a trilateral meeting Blinken will host with the two foreign ministers that is designed to highlight the success of the Abraham Accords, brokered by the former administration.

The accords allowed for Israel to normalize ties with the UAE, Bahrain, Morocco and Sudan last year, of which ties with the Emirates are the most advanced.

At the trilateral, Israel and the UAE are expected to announce two new working groups, one on religious coexistence and another that would focus on water and energy.

But the range of the topics that will be brought up in all meetings are fairly wide and include China, Iran, Syria, Yemen, Lebanon, Gaza and the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

Lapid, in his public comments in Washington on Tuesday, will focus on the strong US-Israel bilateral ties and the special relationship Israel has with America and the Biden administration.

Though US officials echoed those same sentiments at the briefing, they also discussed topics of discord in the relationship.

Biden administration officials had spoken about China with National Security Advisor Eyal Hulata when he was in Washington earlier this month.

But State Department senior officials remained vague on Tuesday with respect to their specific concerns on China.

“The US views China as a competitor that challenges the existing international rules-based order; our relationship with China will be competitive when it should be,” the official stated.

ON IRAN, a senior State Department official said that Washington’s main objective at this time is the revival of the 2015 Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, known as the Iran deal, which Israel has traditionally opposed.

Both the US and Israel are joined in their opposition to a nuclear Iran but have differed about how best to achieve that objective.

Lapid said on Tuesday that Iran was one of the major focal points of his Washington trip.

On the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, the senior State Department officials said that at Wednesday’s meetings, Blinken will “reaffirm our belief” in the benefits of a two-state solution. He will also express his appreciation for “Minister Lapid’s recent, strong statement condemning settler violence in the West Bank.”

The Israeli government is split on how best to approach the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, with Prime Minister Naftali Bennett opposing a two-state resolution to the conflict while Lapid has supported it.

But Lapid’s visions of the borders of those two states differ from those envisioned by the Biden administration, which has not advanced a peace process. The senior State Department officials did not mention any movement on that front, except for stating that “we seek to advance it when we can, as best as we can.”

An official said that the accords are not a substitute for the two-state solutions and suggested that they could be used to push for progress toward a resolution of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

“We hope that normalization can be leveraged to advance progress on the Israeli-Palestinian track,” the official said.

An official also spoke of the Biden administration’s commitment to maintaining Israel’s qualitative edge and its support for supplemental funding for the defensive Iron Dome system it provides Israel to protect Israeli citizens against Hamas rockets.

The officials repeated their opposition to Israeli settlement activity and the Palestinian Authority’s monthly stipends to terrorists and their families.

Separately, during Lapid’s trip, Foreign Ministry Director-General Alon Ushpiz will meet with Deputy Secretary of State Wendy Sherman.

Source: https://www.jpost.com/international/us-to-warn-israel-china-ties-are-a-joint-national-security-risk-681833

The post US to warn Israel: China ties are a joint national security risk first appeared on Garner Ted Armstrong Evangelistic Association.

Israel’s Defense Minister Avigdor Liberman announced on Monday that US Congress approved a record-setting $705 million budget for Israel’s missile defense programs for 2018.

“I am pleased and excited to announce that the US Congress has approved a record sum for Israel’s missile defense program: $705 million in 2018,” Liberman said in a statement.

“This is the highest aid budget ever. The money will be used for serial production of Iron Dome interceptors, magic wand and Arrow 3, and for the continued development of the multi-layered defense system against future threats,” he added.

Israel’s multi-layered aerial defense systems include a range of systems.

The new Arrow-3 system that intercepts missiles at greater ranges, heights and travelling at faster speeds, and has significantly upgraded the Jewish state’s aerial defense mechanisms in the face of emerging threats.

It is perceived to be one of the most powerful weapons of its kind in the world.

Other tiers include the Iron Dome system for intercepting short-range missiles, ‘David’s Sling’ a medium-range missile defense system and Arrow-2 weapons system for long-range rockets.

“I thank our great friend the United States, which has invested $ 6.5 billion to defend the skies of the State of Israel. We are grateful for the assistance and uncompromising commitment of the administration and Congress to Israel’s security,” Liberman said of the dramatically increased budget.

Avigdor Liberman, Israel’s Defense Minister, close to Gaza border

Ariel Hermoni, Ministry of Defense

In Monday’s announcement of the $705 million in aid to Israel’s missile defense budget, Liberman thanked the developers behind the Iron Dome.

“Thanks also to the American MDA, Homa, and the defense industries, which developed the three wonders of the technology: Arrow 3, a magic wand and an iron dome, which together promise Israeli citizens maximum security against the threat of missiles and rockets.”

The US aid to Israel’s missile defense comes as Minority Leader of the United States House of Representatives, Nancy Pelosi, is scheduled to lead a delegation of US Congressmen on a trip to Israel and Jordan.

“There is no greater political accomplishment in the 20th century than the establishment of the State of Israel. Our delegation is pleased to be able to extend the congratulations of the American people to the people of Israel as we celebrate the 70th anniversary of the Jewish state this spring,” Nancy Pelosi said in a statement.

Liberman added in his statement that he looks forward to meeting Nancy Pelosi and the rest of the delegation, which only consists of Democrats.

“Tomorrow I will meet in Jerusalem with a delegation of congressmen headed by Israel’s friend Nancy Pelosi and thank them personally.”

In 2016, Israel and the United States signed the two countries largest-ever military aid deal, totaling $38 billion for Israel over the next decade.

The hard-fought deal, which had been under negotiation since November 2015, provides Israeli with $38 billion in military aid over the next decade with $5 billion earmarked for the development of missile defense systems.

Then acting head of Israel’s National Security Council, Jacob Nagel who signed the agreement on behalf of Israel, said “It’s an unprecedented historic agreement. The US has never signed such a large scale agreement with any other country. This comes amid rough times on the American side as their defense budget is tightening.”

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Source: https://www.i24news.tv/en/news/international/170836-180326-washington-approves-record-705-million-to-israel-s-missile-defense-program

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The post US pledges record $705 million to Israel’s missile defense programs first appeared on Garner Ted Armstrong Evangelistic Association.