Senate Rules out U.S. Support for Unesco; Approves $639 M in Grants and Credits to Israel

The Senate yesterday without dissent ruled out American financial support to UNESCO until it restores Israel to its rightful place in it and then authorized a foreign aid program to cost no more than $2.67 billion for the fiscal year that ends next June 30.

The measure, adopted by 46-45 includes $439 million in economic and military grants and $200 million in military credits for Israel, while allowing $250 million in economic grants for Egypt; $243 million in economic and military aid for Jordan, and $100 million in a special fund slated for Syria. Israel’s allowance was boosted by $89 million in economic grants to equal the amount granted to Egypt in another measure for agricultural purposes. Thus Israel and Egypt under the two bills will receive the same amount in economic gifts.

The House is expected to act on its own authorization measure with a ceiling of $2.64 billion recommended by its Foreign Affairs Committee last Oct. 25. That measure does not include the additional $89 million for Israel but has equal grants of $250 million for Israel and Egypt. The authorization measure sets the policy for the program. Appropriations must he voted by both Houses and approved by the President before the funds can be obligated. Generally appropriations measures have lower ceilings.

The amendment to strike out funding for UNESCO was introduced by Sen. Clifford Case (R.NJ) after UNESCO in Paris acted to isolate Israel from its activities on allegations that Israeli excavations were damaging holy places in Jerusalem. The UNESCO Director General’s own reports denied these charges. The Case amendment was also adopted without dissent in the Senate Foreign Relations Committee by a 12-0 vote. Chairman J. William Fulbright (D. Ark.) was among the five members absent at the time.