During the 2008 presidential campaign, Barack Obama promised to "implement a Memorandum of Understanding that provides $30 billion in assistance to Israel over the next decade — investments to Israel's security that will not be tied to any other nation."
In August 2007, the Bush administration signed a "memorandum of understanding" that outlined a 10-year framework for U.S. military assistance to Israel, according to the Congressional Research Service. It calls for incremental yearly increases in foreign military financing to Israel, with $3 billion allocated by fiscal year 2011.
Funding under the memorandum "has been fully provided in the prior fiscal years and in 2012 appropriations," said Jeremy Ben-Ami, executive director of J Street, a liberal group active on issued related to Israel.
Specifically, Congress approved $3.075 billion in security assistance for Israel as part of a larger spending package for fiscal year 2012, according to the American Israel Public Affairs Committee. That marks the fourth consecutive year the memorandum"s terms have been met, AIPAC said.
It"s premature to say that the succeeding six years of the memorandum"s terms will be met. But so far, Obama has followed the lead of President George W. Bush and stuck to the terms of the funding agreement. As the 2012 elections approach, there"s no evidence that this is anything but a Promise Kept.