The yearly increase in military aid to Israel that was proposed by the Bush administration last July has been approved by Congress. The 92-6 vote in the Senate sealed the aid hike, which will bring the yearly total to $2.55 billion in 2009, up from $2.38 billion. Israel will receive $30 billion over 10 years. The aid boost was part of a package that included a $20-billion arms deal for Saudi Arabia and Gulf States aimed at firming up an alliance between the U.S. and Arab states opposing Iran and Syria. Analysts at The Media Line add that some observers felt at the time the increase was announced that it was intended to forestall any objections by Israel or its American supporters to allowing the Saudis to have sophisticated weapons such as laser-guided smart bombs that could fall into the hands of Israel‘s enemies.