White House opposes funding increase for Israeli missile defense program

The White House announced Tuesday that it opposes the Congress's plan to increase the financing for Israel's missile defense program for 2017 to $455 million. Sources in the US said the two countries are engaged in negotiations regarding the terms of a 10-year Memorandum of Understanding that will determine the aid for the joint program by the US and Israeli defense industries. The pro-Israel lobby AIPAC issued a statement saying it is "deeply disappointed" by the Obama administration's approach to the security of Israel.