Two House committees overwhelmingly approved today President. Nixon’s request for $2.2 billion in emergency military aid for Israel. The full House is expected to vote on the measure before Dec. 10 and send it to the Senate. The Appropriations Committee, without a record vote, wrote in its bill $1 billion to be given to Israel as a grant and the balance of $1.2 billion in credit. The Foreign Affairs Committee in authorizing the full amount did not specify grant and credit segments.
A committee aide told the Jewish Telegraphic Agency the breakdown was left to the Appropriations Committee. Proposals in both committees to reduce the full appropriation to resupply weapons for Israel lost in the 18-day Oct. war by $500 million were set aside.
Administration spokesmen yesterday outlined the need for the full amount the President asked by detailing in secret session the kind of equipment that the United States must send to Israel to counterbalance the Soviet Union’s weapons shipments to Egypt, Syria and Iraq. In the Appropriation Committee, Rep. Otto E. Passman (D.La.), chairman of the Foreign Operations Committee, called for a half billion dollar cut last week. But today he recommended restoration to the full amount after referring to the Administration’s explanation of the need.
The Appropriations Committee, of which Rep. George Mahon (D.Texas) is chairman, incorporated the $2.2 billion as part of the overall foreign aid bill totaling $5.8 billion. The latter amount includes a military credit of $300 million and a grant of $50 million for Israel, but they are not parts of the $2.2 billion emergency money.
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.
