Israel is not affected by the Senate Foreign Relations Committee’s action to terminate U.S. government grants of military assistance to foreign countries by July 1. 1977. The committee yesterday set aside the Administration’s bill calling for grant aid of $1.3 billion and adopted the proposal of its chairman, Sen. J. William Fulbright (D.Ark) to provide $740 million for fiscal year 1974 which begins July 1.
Under the Fulbright bill, however, sales of equipment on credit are not affected. Israel has never received free military assistance, but it has purchased close to $1 billion in supplies in the 22 years between 1960-1972, a Pentagon report has disclosed. Countries such as Jordan which received $91 million in grant aid during the 1950-1972 period would be deprived of such assistance under the Fulbright bill.
A Foreign Relations Committee staff specialist explained that the Fulbright bill would phase out grant assistance ever the next four years beginning July 1. At the same time, a new program of low interest rates for loans to buy equipment would be provided to those countries with which they could purchase equipment. The original vote on the Fulbright bill was 13-3. Sens Hugh Scott (R.Pa), Robert Griffin (R.Mich) and Gale W. McGee (D.Wyo) backing the Administration measure, voted against it. Sen. Jacob K. Javits (R.NY), who was absent when the vote was taken was polled today and he favored the Fulbright measure.
The House Foreign Affairs Committee is holding hearings on the Administration bill. Both in the Fulbright bill and the Administration’s legislation. Israel is earmarked for $300 million in military credit for purchases of equipment. Foreign military aid. a standard section of U.S. government policy since the end of World War II, has been provided to dozens of countries. A Pentagon report, made available within the past week, showed that $35.5 billion in equipment was given away in the 22-year period between 1950-1972. Europe heads the list with more than $14 billion.
BREAKDOWN BY COUNTRIES
By countries, Iran was given $833 million; Iraq, over $46 million (none since the Six-Day War); Jordan, $91 million; Lebanon. $10 million; Saudi Arabia, $36 million; and Syria, $57 million (none since 1967). Egypt and Israel, never received grant aid.
In the military sales program, Israel bought on credit $993 million since 1950. Iran’s purchases totaled $793 million; Saudi Arabia. $300 million; Jordan, $13 million; and Lebanon. $4 million. Syria’s purchases were negligible.
Unofficially, it was pointed out that Egypt. Syria and Iraq received vast quantities of military equipment since the Six-Day War. France. Britain and other countries also shipped munitions in large amounts to the Middle East in the 20-year period. In the current fiscal year ending next June 30, Israel’s purchases have been $207 million and Iran’s were $263 million, and Saudi Arabia, $14 million. Lebanon’s purchases totaled only $41,000.
Neither Israeli nor Egyptian military personnel received training from the United States under the military assistance program in the years since 1950, according to the Pentagon report. World-wide, more than 390,000 foreigners were trained by the U.S.
The Archive of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency includes articles published from 1923 to 2008. Archive stories reflect the journalistic standards and practices of the time they were published.
