The US government today formally transferred to Israel two grants totalling $52 million which will be used to help the resettlement of Jewish immigrants including those arriving from the Soviet Union. The transfer was formalized at a signing ceremony by Israel’s Ambassador Yitzhak Rabin, and Dr. John A. Hannah, administrator of the Agency for International Development (AID). The ceremony was attended by Joseph J. Sisco, Assistant Secretary of State for Near Eastern Affairs, representing the State Department which will administer the grants.
The $50 million grant was authorized and appropriated by Congress in foreign aid legislation. The additional $2 million was granted by President Nixon from an AID contingency fund intended to facilitate the movement of Jewish emigres from the Soviet Union to Israel. Dr. Hannah pointed out that both grants would help Israel to resettle large numbers of immigrants including those from Russia who, he said, “hopefully will find more satisfying lives and will contribute to the continued development and growth of Israel.”
Responding, Rabin described the grants as “a further tangible symbol of the friendship between the US and Israel” and “a demonstration of the US government’s understanding of Israel’s struggle for peace with security.” The $50 million will go to Israel in the form of purchases of US industrial and other commodities which the Israel government will sell for Israeli pounds. The proceeds will be applied to the national budget.
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