Former US defense official calls on Trump to halt Israel’s sub program

A former senior US defense department official has added a new twist to the controversy roiling Israel over the acquisition of new submarines, saying President-elect Donald Trump should step in and halt the purchase.

“The American taxpayer is effectively subsidizing this new round of submarine procurement,” wrote Dov Zakheim, a former senior Department of Defense official and adviser to George W. Bush and Mitt Romney, arguing that given the cloud over the deal, the US should evaluate the purchase and stop it if necessary.

The plan to equip the Israeli navy with three new submarines — which play a major part in Israel’s deterrent capabilities — has caused a political storm in recent days, amid allegation that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu gave a green light to the deal over the objections of the top military brass who wanted to use the funds for other projects.

There have also been reports that Netanyahu’s personal lawyer David Shimron sought to use his influence to lobby for the German shipyard that builds the fleet. Both men have denied any wrong doing, with Netanyahu saying his sole concern was Israel’s security.

“It may be too late for the Obama administration to do much about the Israeli submarine purchase,” Zakheim, who led a joint US-Israel evaluation 30 years ago that approved the original submarine program, wrote in the National Interest.

“But the incoming Trump administration should insist that Israel not move ahead until the Pentagon, working in tandem with Israel’s Navy, has had a chance to review the new submarine program, especially since the IN [Israel Navy] itself has reservations about it,” said Zakheim, who is also actively involved with several US Jewish Groups.

The US does not directly fund the submarine program, which is paid for by Israel, but heavily subsidized by the German government.

However, Zakheim argued that the only reason Israel can afford them is because US military assistance frees up money from other defense needs.

“Remaining costs borne by Israel have in effect been subsidized by the US taxpayer by virtue of the Offshore Procurement (OSP) program. This program, virtually unique to Israel, allows it to apply American foreign military assistance funding to projects of its own,” he said.

Israel currently receives $3 billion annually from the US and that will increase to $3.8 billion per year starting in 2018 and through 2028 under a package agreed in September.

The aid agreement is seen in Israel as key to helping it maintain its “qualitative military edge” over potential threats, including from an emboldened Iran now flush with cash after many nuclear-related sanctions were lifted during the past year in a deal signed with world powers.

For the US, Israel is cited as a rare island of stability in a region in turmoil, as well as an ally on non-nuclear security issues in the region, including cyber warfare and efforts to rein in Islamist terror groups.

“‘Support’ during the Reagan presidency never meant a blank check; thirty years later, it should likewise not mean one when Donald Trump and his team take on the reins of governance early next year,” Zakheim wrote.