Trump to maintain US aid to Israel despite budget cuts to State Dept.

Money allocated for military aid to Israel will be kept in Trump’s budget to ensure Israel maintains its qualitative edge over its enemies.

US military aid to Israel will be spared from cuts to the US State Department in the budget presented by US President Donald Trump that would earmark $10 billion less to the US State Department in 2018 than the current fiscal year.

“(The President’s 2018 budget) provides $3.1 billion to meet the security assistance commitment to Israel, currently at an all-time high, ensuring that Israel has the ability to defend itself from threats and maintain its qualitative military edge,” the budget reads.

Trump’s budget proposes a 28% cut in the amount allocated to the US State Department in 2017, equaling a base amount of $25.6 billion in funding for 2018.

“The Budget seeks to reduce or end direct funding for international organizations whose missions do not substantially advance US foreign policy interests, duplicate, or are not well-managed,” the budget explains. It further reads, “These steps to reduce foreign assistance free up funding for critical priorities here at home and put America first.”

Although Trump’s budget would reduce US financial contributions to international organizations to a level “appropriate to the US share of international spending,” military spending would increase by about $54 billion.

By: Jonathan Benedek, World Israel News

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