Israel’s annual $3 billion installment of U.S. aid moved one step closer to reality this week, as the House of Representatives passed a foreign aid bill by the record margin of 337-87.
Wednesday’s vote on the fiscal year 1995 foreign aid appropriations bill was welcomed by the pro-Israel community, which, as in previous years, had lobbied hard for the measure’s passage.
“The record vote demonstrates an overwhelming bipartisan commitment to nurturing and strengthening the peace process,” Steve Grossman, president of the American Israel Public Affairs Committee, said in a statement following the vote.
“It is the clearest possible expression of support for strong U.S.-Israel relations, as well as for the Israeli government and its prime minister during these challenging and uncertain times,” Grossman continued.
Although the Clinton administration has proposed an overhaul of U.S. foreign aid, administration officials and most in Congress have been supportive of retaining Israel’s annual $3 billion.
The bill contains a special provision allowing for early disbursal of the aid to Israel within 30 days of the bill’s enactment, or by Oct. 30, whichever is later.
The bill also calls for an additional $80 million to aid Israel in refugee resettlement and $10 million for cooperative development and research programs.
It also contains a provision for a $7 million investment in Middle East regional cooperation, some of which would go to Israel.
The bill’s total calls for $13.6 billion in foreign aid spending, down $700 million from last year. Israel remains the largest recipient of U.S. foreign aid.
Egypt, the first Arab country to make peace with Israel, also retained its high aid level of $2.1 billion.
And the Palestinians, Israel’s newest partners, would receive $78 million under the bill, to be used for health, education, roads and institution-building. Last year’s bill provided $25 million for the Palestinians.
The Senate is considering its own measure, which would also include $3 billion for Israel, and observers expect a vote on that this summer.
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.
