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Israelis Hopeful Ford May Have Changed His Mind About Opposing $550 Million in Transitional Aid

April 20, 1976
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Sen. Jacob K. Javits (R.NY), currently touring the Middle East, is due here tomorrow from Egypt where he had lengthy meetings with President Anwar Sadat over the weekend. Interest here, however, centers mainly on what the Senator will report to Israeli leaders about the private meeting he had with President Ford prior to leaving Washington at which the $550 million transitional quarter aid is sue is understood to have been discussed.

Israeli circles in Washington reported that the meeting may have been the first sign that Ford will relent in his opposition to foreign aid funding for the three months between fiscal 1976 and fiscal 1977 that would give Israel an additional $550 million. According to some sources. Ford intimated to Javits that he would be amenable to a compromise that would provide Israel with half of its aid request.

Javits has meetings scheduled with Premier Yitzhak Rabin, Foreign Minister Yigal Allon and Defense Minister Shimon Peres. He will also meet with former Premier Golda Meir, former Foreign Minister Abba Eban. former Defense Minister Moshe Dayan and Likud leader Menachem Beigin. Javits has also requested a meeting with Prof. Shlomo Avineri, the new director general of the Foreign Ministry.

At a news conference in Cairo yesterday, Javits said he was impressed by Sadat’s sincere desire to achieve a peaceful settlement in the Middle East. He noted, however, that he and the Egyptian leader had agreed to disagree over a PLO role in a peace settlement.

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