For close to eight decades, the pattern of the U.S.-Israel alliance has been very predictable: Washington will supply billions in military aid, and in return Israel will buy American-made weapons. However, a little-known provision in this year’s defense budget could significantly alter that relationship in fundamental ways, and will reshape how the U.S. will develop military technology, share its sensitive information and spend taxpayer dollars.
The United States-Israel Defense Technology Cooperation Initiative, known as Section 219 in the House-passed National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) and Section 1217 in the Senate version, would bring the countries’ defense industries much closer together. Backers, including AIPAC, say that the measure strengthens America’s military advantage. Some critics from both sides of the aisle, including Rep. Ro Khanna, D-Calif., to Rep. Thomas Massie, R-Ky., say it raises serious questions about U.S. sovereignty and congressional oversight.
Not only would the proposal encourage arms sales, but it would require the Pentagon to set up a dedicated office to expand long-term cooperations in areas such as artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, quantum computing and defense manufacturing.
Partnership makes strategic sense, supporters such as the Jewish Institute for National Security of America (JINSA) say. Israeli military technology, they say, has been tested in real-world combat, largely against drones and missile attacks. They have said bringing those innovations to the U.S. defense programs could help the Pentagon operations move faster and avoid the delays that often slow military procurement.
But, the proposal would establish a level of military integration that the United States has never had with any other foreign partner. Even the closest of America’s intelligence partners in the Five Eyes alliance don’t have this sort of institutionalized access to core U.S. defense systems.
Another issue includes cybersecurity and intelligence. Establishing more shared networks and data integration between the two militaries and intelligence agencies, Israel’s Mossad, could increase the potential risk of espionage, cyber intrusions and/or unauthorized disclosure of sensitive defense information.
The proposal also has the potential to impact how taxpayer money is spent. Under the current system, Israel’s $3.8 billion annual U.S. military aid is largely used to purchase weapons made by American workers. Section 219 would allow for broad co-production agreements and joint manufacturing projects, meaning some taxpayer dollars spent on defense production could be sent to Israel, rather than creating jobs in the U.S.
This long-term technological partnership is on a scale that will require a careful public debate, not just as a rider to a broader defense spending bill. As the Senate considers the legislation in future meetings, lawmakers will ultimately have to weigh the potential military benefits against the questions about sovereignty, security and the long-term use of taxpayer dollars.