Bipartisan Measure to Assure Israel Credit for Military Purchases Introduced in Senate

Bipartisan legislation to insure continuity of Israel’s line of credit for purchase of military equipment from the United States was introduced in the Senate today by Sen. Henry M. Jackson (D. Wash.) with Senators Gordon Allott (R. Col.) and Abraham Ribicoff (D. Conn.) co-sponsoring the measure. Sen. Jackson urged approval of an amendment to the Defense Procurement Act, now under debate in the Senate, which would extend authorization of “unlimited credit” to Israel for an additional 15 months to Dec. 31, 1973. Section 501 of that act. providing the credit, expires next Oct. 31.

Sen. Allott also spoke for the authorization but Sen. John Stennis (D. Miss.) opposed it on technical grounds, contending it should come from the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.

The original credit measure, also introduced by Sen. Jackson, which brought about the first line of credit of $500 million for Israel, was approved by the Senate in Sept., 1970 by a vote of 87 to seven, over the opposition of Sen. J. William Fulbright (D. Ark.), chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. Sen. Jackson said he was introducing the new legislation in view of the Senate rejection, on July 24, of the foreign military aid bill in which Israel was to have received a military credit of up to $300 million and a supporting economic grant of $85 million.

Meanwhile, the House Foreign Affairs Committee sent to the House floor today legislation for a new military sales act providing a total of $629 million of which $300 million is earmarked as a credit for Israel to buy equipment, and an additional $50 million as a grant for economic supporting assistance. The Jewish Telegraphic Agency was told that the House is not expected to act on that measure until next week.