Middle East Aid Package

Egypt is earmarked by the Carter Administration to receive $771,022,000 in economic security assistance and agricultural commodities during the fiscal year beginning next Oct. 1, according to statistics obtained by the Jewish Telegraphic Agency at the State Department.

This figure is only $14 million less than the funding in the same categories for Israel. As has been made known previously, Israel was listed to get $511,043,000 in the last Ford Administration budget but this amount was boosted to $785 million by the Carter Administration. Jordan is earmarked for $67,659,000 in economic aid; Lebanon, $8,800,000; and Syria, $94,175,000.

These statistics include allocations of agricultural commodities under the U.S. Food for Peace Program also known as “P.L. 480,” which is the identifying number of the U.S. Public Law establishing the assistance projects.

Israel is booked for $11,943,000 in PL 480 money, including $2,743,000 in grants for Gaza and the West Bank. Egypt’s allocation is about 14 times as much, $146,022,000. Jordan is earmarked for $7,659,000 and Syria for $19,175,000. All of Lebanon’s fund is in this category.

Military statistics, previously announced; show Israel is to receive $1 billion, equally divided between credit and gift; Jordan $75 million in credits and $56.5 million in grants. Military assistance is expected to be asked for Egypt when Egyptian President Anwar Sadat visits Washington April 4-5 but no figure is shown in the proposed programs thus far. Support for the Sinai project between Egyptian and Israeli forces is listed at $12,200,000. A Middle East special fund, for use principally for refugees, is earmarked at $25 million.

In a statement to Congress on the programs, President Carter said last Friday that the security supporting assistance is to “finance programs for countries whose economic condition is a factor in our efforts to assure international security.”