; and we are establishing or sustaining relationships that may last for generations and provide benefits for an extended period of time. . (2) For more than 50 years, the United States has worked to ensure Israel’s qualitative military edge when considering the sale or export of defense articles and defense services to Israel or to others in the Middle East region. (3) Maintaining a substantial qualitative military edge is critical to preserving Israel’s safety and security and has been a vital consideration in all previous sales of weapons to the region. (4) Congress codified United States support for Israel’s qualitative military edge as United States policy in 2008 in section 201 of Public Law 110–429 ( 22 U.S.C. 2776 note), which requires that any proposed U.S. arms sale to any country in the Middle East other than Israel must include a notification to Congress with a determination that the sale or export of such would not adversely affect Israel’s qualitative military edge over military threats to Israel . (5) In 2016, the United States and Israel signed a 10-year Memorandum of Understanding, in which the United States committed that the acquisition of additional U.S.-produced capabilities and technology provide the best means to ensure Israel preserves its Qualitative Military Edge (QME) . (6) In 2015, Vice President Joe Biden announced United States intention to transfer the F–35 Joint Strike Fighter to Israel: What you may not know is that next year, we will deliver to Israel the F–35 Joint Strike Fighter—our finest—making Israel the only country in the Middle East with a fifth-generation aircraft. No other. . (7) In 2016, Israel received its first shipment of F–35 Joint Strike Fighter aircraft and on the occasion, the Israeli Defense Forces stated, As the Middle East grows more and more unstable, and as groups that threaten to destroy us race to stockpile weapons, we need to stay a step ahead of the game. The F–35 gives us the edge we need to take on groups and armies with even the most advanced