Israel hopes to sign new US military aid package soonest

JERUSALEM – The Israeli prime minister’s office says an official will travel to Washington next week in the hopes of signing a long-anticipated agreement that could result in increased U.S. military assistance to Israel.

The premier’s office says Brig. Gen. Jacob Nagel of Israel’s National Security Council will meet White House officials to sign an agreement “as soon as possible.”

The U.S. gives Israel $3.1 billion annually in an agreement expiring in late 2017. The Obama administration has offered Israel an enhanced decade-long military aid package to ease Israel’s concerns over the U.S.-led Iranian nuclear deal.

Since the Iran deal was signed, the U.S. and Israel have haggled over how much Israel would receive. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu once reportedly suggested Israel might get a better deal from the next U.S. administration.