The United States and Israel pledged $15 million each last week to fund joint economic projects through a science and technology commission.
Commerce Secretary Ron Brown and Israeli Minister of Commerce and Industry Michael Harish announced the agreement following the second meeting of the U.S.-Israel Science and Technology Commission held here June 20.
American Israel Public Affairs Committee President Steve Grossman, who is a member of the commission, called the agreement a “breakthrough” in U.S.-Israel relations.
“This is the kind of agreement where co-equals are coming together,” Grossman said in a telephone interview after the commission meeting.
“This is on the fast track and is very exciting, because it will create jobs through feasible projects where everyone involved will benefit,” he added.
The initial $30 million is intended to encourage private industry to participate in joint projects both technologically and financially.
The commission is “the newest concrete example of President Clinton’s commitment to working closely with Prime Minister Rabin in creating high-technology jobs and economic growth in both countries,” Brown said.
Brown and Rabin agreed to establish the commission during Brown’s trip to the Middle East in January.
On July 6, the United States is scheduled to open a Science and Technology Center in Tel Aviv.
The center will assist U.S. companies seeking to do business in Israel.
“This is a prime example of the effective partnership two countries can forge together,” Harish said of the agreement and of the forthcoming center.
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.
