Clinton’s Budget Secures Current Aid to Israel, Egypt

As expected, President Clinton has asked Congress to maintain current levels of foreign aid to Israel and Egypt.

In Clinton’s budget proposal sent to Congress this week, Israel would remain the largest recipient of U.S. foreign assistance, getting $3 billion in economic and military assistance. Egypt would continues to receive its annual $2.1 billion in aid.

The foreign-aid package proposed by Clinton, totaling $21.2 billion, represents about 1 percent of the $1.6 trillion budget.

Clinton also proposed increasing Jordan’s military aid to $30 million. Last year Jordan received $7.2 million in U.S. aid.

The budget proposal specifies that the additional $22.8 million for Jordan would be used to replace transportation and communications equipment.

Jordan would also receive a boost if Congress approves Clinton’s supplemental budget request for the fiscal year 1995.

In that request, also sent to Congress this week, Clinton asked for $275 million to be used to eliminate Jordan’s remaining debt to the United States.

Clinton called on Congress to show “continued strong economic and military support for Israel and Egypt and provide increase military support for Jordan”.

“American diplomacy is key to continued progress in the peace process and in shaping international responses to the growing need for trade with, and investment in, the region”, Clinton wrote in his budget message to the Congress.

The budget also proposes $75 million in “economic in “economic assistance for Palestinians in the West Bank area and in Gaza” to “continue to promote Palestinian self-government through economic development and institution building”.

The budget also requests $12 million to fund the five multi-lateral Middle East peace process working groups.