International Glance
The pro-Israel advocacy group J Street is now calling for an end to "direct" US military support to Israel, per a new policy document published on Monday.
The group had previously backed Washington's continued provision of defensive weapons systems, such as the replenishment of Israel's Iron Dome, at no cost to Israelis.
Now, it says the US "should continue to sell" short-range air and ballistic missile defence capabilities to Israel, but Israel should use its own money to pay for them.
"Israel faces real security challenges that require a significant defense investment. With a per capita GDP comparable to leading US allies such as the United Kingdom, France and Japan, as well as an annual defense budget of over $45 billion, it has the financial means to address these challenges," J Street said.
"It does not require almost $4 billion per year in US financial subsidies to purchase weapons," it added.
"Continuing this assistance is both unnecessary and politically counterproductive, creating avoidable tensions in US domestic politics and in the bilateral relationship."
The way the current military aid package operates is that the US provides Israel with American taxpayer funds, and those funds are put into US weapons companies to acquire equipment.
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