Israel is seeking more U.S. aid to help it meet the high costs of military preparedness for war in the Persian Gulf, Defense Minister Moshe Arens said Monday.
Addressing a luncheon meeting of the Israel-U.S. Chamber of Commerce here, Arens said he had told U.S. Defense Secretary Dick Cheney that Israel will need an additional $2.5 billion in U.S. military aid.
Since the Gulf crisis began in August, Israel has incurred costs of nearly $1 billion by calling up reserves and deploying forces.
Israel is to receive $1.8 million in U.S. military aid this fiscal year, which began Oct. 1, and will be allowed this year to use an additional $200 million in U.S. economic aid for military purposes.
Israel is also designated to receive $700 million in excess U.S. weaponry being “drawn down” from Western Europe and to have its stockpile of U.S. munitions doubled from $100 million to $200 million.
Arens spoke as U.S. Secretary of State James Baker, on his current tour of the Gulf States and Saudi Arabia, told American troops that the Gulf crisis had entered a new stage in which military action against Iraq appeared more likely than before.
On his arrival in Saudi Arabia, he said that Washington continued to strive for peace through diplomatic means, but the U.S. must prepare for the use of force.
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