Moshe Ya'alon, Ashton Carter
Moshe Ya'alon, Ashton CarterAlon Bason/Ministry of Defense

US Secretary of Defense Ashton Carter invited Defense Minister Moshe Ya'alon (Likud) for an official visit to the US in late October, in a meeting apparently meant to discuss American military "compensation" to Israel over the Iran nuclear deal.

Pentagon press secretary Peter Cook explained that the meeting is to emphasize "the strength of American-Israeli security ties."

Cook confirmed reports to Arutz Sheva by a senior member of the Pentagon, who several weeks ago said the sides are to discuss a significant enlargement of the American military support for Israel, in a discussion that began during Carter's visit to Israel in July.

The Pentagon press secretary added that the meeting is meant to ensure Israel maintains a significant military advantage in the Middle East.

According to the Pentagon, the increase in aid to Israel is to include fighter jets, advanced munitions and anti-rocket defense systems.

There also appears to be a possibility that the annual defense budget the US grants to Israel will be enlarged, along with the joint projects and maneuvers held between the IDF and the US Army.

Ya'alon is to arrive in Washington DC just shortly before Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu is to visit the White House, and will apparently solidify the details of the expanding aid, which neither side is openly terming "compensation" for the Iran nuclear deal.

Netanyahu has not publicly addressed the matter, but behind the scenes meetings over the "compensation" have been taking place since the Iran deal began to finalize. Ya'alon's Defense Ministry has played a key role in these talks.