US boosts military ties with Israel

US politicians have unanimously voted to strengthen ties with Israel, boosting military cooperation and declaring Israel a "major strategic partner".

The House of Representatives on Wednesday approved the Strategic Partnership Act 2014, which will allow the US to expand its weapons stockpile in Israel by $200m to a total of $1.8bn.

Israel can use this stockpile on request, as it did in its summer war on Gaza that killed more than 2,000 Palestinians.

Earlier this year the US Congress approved increased funding for Israel's Iron Dome missile defence system, from $235m in 2014 to $351m this year.

The act also expands cooperation on energy, research, business and agriculture.

Shortly before the House vote Eliot Engel, a Democratic congressman, said Israel had always represented "a bright light in a very, very dark region" and that the bill would help it maintain a "qualitative military edge".

Ed Royce, the chairman of the House foreign affairs committee said: "We must always be working to ensure that our support for Israel keeps pace with the threats proliferating against the country - from Iran to Hamas."

The legislation will also allow Israel to be included in the top-tier category for licence-free exports of certain US technologies and products.

Israel had pushed for the act to include visa-free travel for Israelis in the US, a request that was quashed over Israel's refusal to allow American citizens of Palestinian heritage to freely enter its territory.