The United States told Israel the sequester axe fell lightly on Israel and that the cut in military aid will amount to $144 million or 5 percent, instead of the originally planned 8 percent of the $3.1 billion aid program.
Finance Ministry sources told the Globes business newspaper that “reliable sources” notified Finance Minister Yuval Steinitz of the decision.
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The ministry said that despite the reaction, Israel actually will receive more in this year than it 2012. Mush of the aid is funneled back to the United States for American equipment and technology.
Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel told visiting Defense Minister Ehud Barak last week that the sequester cut would not affect the Arrow and David’s Sling anti-missile programs.
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