Israel expressed its formal thanks today to President Nixon and the U.S. government for the grant of another $500 million out of the $2.2 billion approved by Congress as military aid for Israel during the Oct. war. Nixon’s decision to award the $500 million as a grant was taken over the weekend in Yalta and announced by the White House yesterday.
The decision meant that the full $1.5 billion which Congress had enabled the Administration to award to Israel as grants has in fact been awarded as grants, leaving only the $700 million as loans to be repaid. Deputy Premier and Foreign Minister Yigal allon issued a statement expressing “The Government’s appreciation of the U.S. President’s decision.” “This is another part of U.S. aid to Israel in the field of military supply and financing which is so vital for Israel’s security in the face of ongoing Arab military aggrandizement and for increasing the prospect of peace in the area.” Allon’s statement said.
Cabinet Secretary Gershon Avner told newsmen that almost all the Cabinet’s weekly session today was devoted to defense matters including a report by Defense Minister Shimon Peres on his arms-buying mission to the U.S. The Cabinet sat as a ministerial security committee and therefore no details of its deliberations were released.
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