Relief for Jordan Clears Hurdle in Senate Measure

The Senate has voted to forgive all of Jordan’s remaining debt to the United States by the end of the 1996 fiscal year.

The move could defuse what has become an especially volatile question in the Middle East peace process: Can the United States deliver on its promise that it pays to make peace with Israel?

After a full-court press by the Clinton administration that included calls to key senators from Secretary of State Warren Christopher during his trip to the Middle East last week, the Senate agreed to include $50 million in debt relief now and an additional $225 million in fiscal year 1996.

The Senate move represents a victory for pro-Israel activists, many of whom had actively lobbied for full-debt relief. President Clinton had promised King Hussein debt relief when Jordan made peace with Israel in October.

Activists had expressed disappointment when the House of Representatives, in a budget-cutting measure last week, had approved only $50 million in relief for Jordan.

In the Senate bill, all of the money would come from the foreign aid budget.

According to the debt relief formula, the total $275 million would forgive Jordan’s remaining $410 million debt to the United States.

Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.), chairman of the Foreign Operations Appropriations Subcommittee, sponsored the measure, which was an amendment to the Department of Defense Supplemental Appropriations bill.

Activists here said they believe the Senate’s version will gain support when the two chambers work out their difference in a conference committee.

The American Israel Public Affairs Committee praised the Senate’s move.

“It’s a long process but we’re encouraged in the difficult environment that there’s support for recognizing the efforts that the Jordanian government has made in the peace process,” an AIPAC spokeswoman said.