The Senate today adopted the $3.5 billion Foreign Aid Bill and sent the measure to conference to iron out differences with the House version. The Senate allocated $649.5 million in economic and military grants for Israel, while the House had voted $15 million more. The difference is in the funding for Soviet refugees in Israel with the Senate reducing the amount from $40 to $25 million.
Funds for the Arab countries remained unchanged, with economic grants of $250 million for Egypt, $77 million for Jordan and another $100 million for Middle East “requirements,” meaning generally Syria. In addition, Jordan is to get about $100 million in military aid. Thus the amount for Israel is nearly balanced by those being provided the Arabs. Economic aid to Israel will be a maximum of $664.5 million if the House version of funds for Soviet refugees is adopted.
The grants for Israel total less than those given to its immediate Arab neighbors. Israel’ grants, including the larger House version for Soviet refugees, total $464.5 million. This includes the $100 million in military aid. The remaining $200 million in military funding is a credit. The grants for the Arab states total $527 million, including the $100 million in military assistance to Jordan.
This bill is for the fiscal year ending next June 30. Thus, almost nine months of the year are gone. The new budget for the fiscal year starting July 1 has not yet been introduced in Congress. Secretary of State Henry A. Kissinger is expected to do so when he returns from his current Middle East shuttling.
The Israelis are reportedly asking for $2.5 billion for the year beginning July 1, $1.5 billion of it for military purchases.
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