Gov't tries to speed up US-Israel MoU talks as clock runs down on current Congress

Israel is pushing to expedite negotiations with the Trump administration over a new Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) that dictates the terms of US military assistance and strategic relations. A planned visit to Washington this week is intended to accelerate these discussions.

The pace of the talks has lagged, creating uncertainty about whether a renewed MoU can be approved before the current US Congress concludes its term in January. A change in congressional control, with a potential Democratic majority in both the House and Senate, could pose significant challenges. This is particularly concerning given that 40 out of 47 Democratic senators previously voted to block weapons sales to Israel.

Originally slated for early 2026, the MoU talks were delayed by the Iran war and subsequent events. The current focus appears to be on securing a deal in the two-month window between the end of elections and the inauguration of a new Congress, though even this is considered a long shot. A radical shift is expected in the nature of the discussions, moving away from increasing military aid towards a 10-year plan to phase out US military assistance in favor of joint partnership funding.

The existing MoU is valid until 2029, with the next agreement anticipated to cover the period from 2029 to 2039. The urgency to finalize a new agreement is also driven by the need for multi-year planning for programs funded under the MoU.