Arabic version: الكونغرس يتقدم بمقترح دمج عسكري أمريكي إسرائيلي

According to Al Jazeera,

A provision in a bill before the United States Congress could tie the American and Israeli militaries far more closely together, deepening their cooperation on weapons research, production and technology. The proposal, titled the “United States-Israel Defense Technology Cooperation Initiative,” appears as Section 224 of the House Armed Services Committee’s version of the fiscal year 2027 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), the annual US defence policy bill.

If enacted, the provision could mark a major change in one of the world’s closest military relationships, shifting the two countries from a partnership centred largely on American military aid towards one in which their defence industries are more deeply intertwined. Section 224 would require the US defence secretary to appoint an “executive agent”: a single official to coordinate military cooperation between the US and Israel. That work would cover joint research and development, the shared production of weapons, and the linking of military systems and data. “What Congress is trying to do now is find different ways of entrenching the relationship so deep in America’s own defence industrial base that it’s impossible to root it out,” Josh Paul, a former US State Department official and founder of the advocacy group A New Policy, said about the controversial provision.

The proposed measure comes in the wake of increased military actions in the Middle East, including a joint US-Israeli attack on Iran earlier this year. In February, US and Israeli forces attacked Iran together, triggering five weeks of war; Iran struck back at Israel and at US bases in the Gulf before a ceasefire took hold in April. As tensions in the region continue to evolve, the US-Israel military relationship is under scrutiny, especially in light of allegations against Israel at the International Court of Justice.

The bill is still in its early stages, requiring approval from the House Armed Services Committee, the full House, and the Senate. Supported by key figures from both major political parties, the proposal faces growing opposition among some American Democrats and Republicans regarding further military aid to Israel. Historically, the US has provided substantial military assistance to Israel, with current agreements ensuring around $3.8 billion annually, a figure that could shift if the proposed integration takes hold.