Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is laughing all the way to the bank today. Firstly, he has pretty much ensured that his nation will receive a guaranteed $30 billion (Dh110 billion) from Washington for a 10-year period beginning in 2018. And secondly, his occupying army and air force will get first pickings on the latest US military hardware at discounted prices. In effect, it is a sweetheart deal that could not suit Israel better: More money and better weapons to do what Israel under Netanyahu does best — kill Palestinians. Consider that yesterday was the first anniversary of the ceasefire in last summer’s murderous invasion of the Gaza Strip by Israel and there is a sick irony in the renewed financial plan. That seven-week invasion killed more than 2,000 Palestinians, maimed tens of thousands, and held hundreds of thousands without roofs over their heads, schools for their children and water in their pipes.

That invasion showed off the full military capability of US technology installed on Israeli helicopter gunships and fighter jets as smart bombs, artillery shells, laser-guided missiles and GPS-aided sighting systems pounded Palestinians as they played on the beach, cowered in their homes and sought shelter in schools flying the blue flag of the United Nations.

Now, with the latest backing from Washington extended for a further 10-year period — the initial deal was endorsed by president George W. Bush in 2007 — Israel has carte blanche to do as it wishes against the largely unarmed Palestinian people. And, after all, over that same period since Bush signed off on the deal, Israel has already launched three separate and equally devastating invasions on the Gaza Strip. Yes, waging war is expensive, but not for Netanyahu when he is using subsidised military equipment and getting paid by Washington at the same time. When Palestinian homes are demolished in the West Bank to make way for new colonies; when a baby is burned to death in his bed by Israeli terrorists; when a youth is shot dead for daring to express anger and frustration; and when rubber tubes are forced into stomachs of prisoners held without charge in Israeli jails, do not expect justice — just remember the cheque from Washington to Tel Aviv is in the mail.