WASHINGTON (AFP) -- The U.S. Congress has approved a 170 million dollar increase in security assistance to Israel as part of its new 10-year, 30 billion dollar defense aid commitment to the Zionist regime.

The money for Israel was part of a larger supplemental spending bill that included 162 billion dollars for the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. The legislation gained final approval in a 92-6 Senate vote late Thursday.
America's pro-Israel lobby, the American Israel Public Affairs Committee, welcomed the congressional action, saying it would increase U.S. aid to Israel to 2.55 billion dollars in fiscal year 2009, up from 2.38 billion dollars this year.
“The U.S. commitment to maintaining Israel's qualitative military edge is the cornerstone of American policy in the region,” AIPAC said in a statement Friday.
“This year's package holds heightened significance for U.S. security interests, as the U.S. and Israel face new challenges.
Unveiled package
The package was unveiled by Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice on July 30 as part of a new military pact with U.S. allies in the Middle East in a bid to “counter the negative influences” of Al-Qaeda and Hezbollah as well as certain states.
The military aid to Israel reflected an increase in value of more than 25 percent, Israel Prime Minister Ehud Olmert has said, describing the package as a considerable improvement and very important element for national security.