The United States is recommending that the Israeli government sell by the end of the year a controlling stake in El Al Airlines, the Bezek telephone company and either or both Israel Discount Bank and Bank Leumi. Stuart Eizenstat, assistant secretary of state for economic affairs, released the annual report of the U.S.-Israel Joint Economic Development Group. The report also recommended that Israel cut government spending, reduce its budget deficit and cut taxes. Eizenstat hailed Israel’s economy as being “on the cusp” of that of a developed nation, but cautioned at a roundtable briefing that the impasse in the peace process could hurt Israel’s overall economic health.
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The Archive of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency includes articles published from 1923 to 2008. Archive stories reflect the journalistic standards and practices of the time they were published.