A pro-Israel Washington source yesterday told “Globes” that there is little chance that Israel will receive the special aid promised by outgoing President Bill Clinton before the 2002 financial year. This is despite the changes in Congress, which have placed pro-Israel Congressmen at the head of the crucial budget committees.
“Congress is aware of Israel’s standing request, but at this stage, months before President-elect George Bush is expected to submit his budget proposal for 2002, the request is not high on the list of priorities for most Congressmen,” the source said.
The latest issue of the “Defense News” weekly states that while there is a very slight chance that Congress will approve the special aid package, which includes $450 million for Israel and smaller grants for Egypt and Jordan, in special interim legislation in April 2001, Congressional sources say that approval of the special aid should not be expected before 2002.
An Israel Ministry of Finance official told “Defense News”, “Now that we realize that we will not receive the additional US aid, we must put together a new budget, which may not meet the expectations of the Ministry of Defense for the coming financial year.”
Diplomats and pro-Israel sources told “Globes” that the rejection of the aid package is ironic when an improvement in the climate for Israel in the House Foreign Operations Subcommittee of the Committee on Appropriations is expected.
Rep. Sonny Callahan (R. Alabama), the isolationist subcommittee chairman, who more than once tried to obstruct approval of aid to Israel, is retiring from his chairmanship after six year. The new chairman is Rep. Jim Colby (R. Arizona), who has a record of strong support for Israel.
Published by Israel's Business Arena on January 17, 2001