F.o.a. Reports on Aid to Near East; No Figures on Israel

The Foreign Operations Administration today made known in testimony before the House Foreign Affairs Committee that development assistance funds requests have been programmed to include approximately $130,000,000 for the Near East which must be divided among Iran, Israel, and the Arab states.

Norman S. Paul, FCA regional director for the Office of Near East, South Asia and Africa Operations, made this information public but did not break down the total figure to show how much Israel or any other country in the Near East would receive individually.

Meanwhile, however, FOA sources said that while aid to Israel was to be continued, the program in that country would decline because of the success of previous operations and that not as much money would be spent there as previously. On the other hand, it was noted that aid for the Arabs will be slightly increased as the degree of need indicates.

Israel and the Arab states were characterized as countries in which the problems are rapidly changing and for that reason government officials feel it would be wiser not to specify at this time any specific amount for Israel or individual Arab states.

Whether additional funds besides the $130, 000, 000 cited for the Near East would be afforded Israel is at yet unclear, although it is known that other allocations are being simultaneously asked for mutual defense assistance, mutual defense support, and technical cooperation. Whether the latter categories will be available to Israel is not known although it is assumed that Israel should benefit from technical cooperation funds.