The House Foreign Affairs Committee said today it may be advisable to increase U.S. aid to Israel because of the sudden upsurge in immigration of the last few months.
Reporting on pending foreign aid legislation, the Committee indicated a favorable view of boosting the amount of assistance to Israel in the new fiscal year. The report said: “It is anticipated that consideration will be given to the fact that our aid program to Israel has helped that country to expand its industrial and agricultural output and to meet the costs of resettling refugees who found a haven.”
In the last few years, the committee noted, “allocations (for Israel) were cut from a high of $73,000,000 in 1952 to $25,000,000 in 1956–as immigration tapered off and as the country strengthened its economy.” In view of the anticipated arrival of approximately 100,000 refugees this year, the Committee said “it may be advisable to increase assistance” to Israel in the legislation now before Congress.
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