The Reagan Administration is proposing that the U.S. provide Israel with $2,485 billion in military and economic aid in the 1984 fiscal year, the same as this year, but less of the military aid will be in the form of a grant.
The proposal is part of a $9.2 billion foreign aid program for 1984 which was outlined by Administration officials Friday. More than half of the program is for the Middle East. Israel is the largest single recipient and Egypt, which is to receive $2.05 billion, also the same as this year, is the second largest recipient.
The Administration is asking $1.7 billion in military aid for Israel, $550 million of which will be a grant, and $785 million in economic assistance, all a grant. For Egypt, military aid will total $1.275 billion of which $425 million will be a grant and $750 million in economic aid, all a grant.
The Administration is proposing that Israel and Egypt receive $50 million more in military grant aid than it recommended last year. But for Israel, this is a decrease since Congress voted fast December to give Israel $750 million in military grants.
The Administration officials said Friday that the Increased grant for Israel reflects the concern in Congress but does not go all the way because the U.S. has “limited resources” and needs funds to provide other countries with aid. This was one of the arguments made by the Administration last year when it opposed the move in Congress to increase grant aid for Israel.
The proposed 1984 foreign aid budget also asks for a $40 million increase in military aid for Jordan, to $115 million. Jordan will also receive $20 million in economic aid, the same as this year. The Administration officials denied that the increase to Jordan was for any specific weapons such as Hawk anti-aircraft missiles or advanced fighter planes. They said Jordan needs to “modernize” its army and that the figures are based on estimates of what Jordan might propose, even though the actual weapons Jordan might need could be double the amount.
The budget also proposes increased aid for Lebanon, including $251 million in a supplementary budget for 1983 which is being used to modernize Lebanon’s army. Another $150 million is being proposed for economic aid to Lebanon to reconstruct its infrastructure and for agricultural improvements. The budget proposes $1 million for military training for Lebanon.
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.
