U.S. sends Israeli aid team back `to do its homework'

Ha'aretz ^ | Sunday, February 23, 2003 Adar1 21, 5763 | By Aluf Benn

[Phil V.]

w w w . h a a r e t z d a i l y . c o m

---

U.S. sends Israeli aid team back `to do its homework'

The Israeli delegation seeking to push through an aid request in the United States returned on Friday from its talks in Washington with a list of "homework" assignments. Officials in the American administration want to hear Israel's plan for economic recovery, even before the new government is formed, together with detailed demands for security aid.

Israel is asking the U.S. for an unprecedentedly large aid package - a $4 billion security grant and American loan guarantees of $8 billion. The aid is to be spread over four years and is supposed to be part of a larger aid package, also including Turkey and Jordan, the administration is preparing in anticipation of the war in Iraq.

The team handling the aid request consists of the prime minister's bureau chief, Dov Weisglass, Treasury Director-General Ohad Marani, Comptroller General Nir Gilad, Defense Minister Director-General Amos Yaron and the Israeli ambassador to Washington Danny Ayalon.

Last Wednesday they all came to Washington expecting to wrap up the request details with the American team so that the package would be presented to senior administration figures before being presented to Congress.

But instead of summaries of understandings, they were confronted with questions and demands for clarifications. A senior Jerusalem source said yesterday: "It is not clear whether there was a misunderstanding or exaggerated expectations on our part."

Israel was asked to provide the administration with additional information about its plans to rehabilitate the economy and budgetary cuts before the U.S. approves the $12 billion in aid. The Americans made it clear they had not received all the information required to pass the Israeli request onto senior administration figures.

The Americans asked how the government intended to return the economy to growth and were interested in the structural reforms, reducing the deficit and privatization. Israel said it needed the special aid in view of Israel Defense Forces expenditures in the intifada and preparations for war in Iraq. The administration demanded further details. Yaron explained that the war in Iraq might lead to terrorist attacks or escalation along the northern border, and this would increase the IDF's expenses.

Still, a senior Jerusalem source on Saturday said that despite the delays, "we shall get the money."

_{By Aluf Benn}

---

[Phil V.]

more rope

[Phil V.]

Miss ya, Muffin.

Kiss, kiss.

[vishnu2]

Now we know where the Turks learned their extortion techniques.

[HiTech RedNeck]

Officials in the American administration want to hear Israel's plan for economic recovery, even before the new government is formed, together with detailed demands for security aid.

How about getting the socialism out of your government

[ambrose]

how about getting it out of ours as well?

[monkeyshine]

In what way is this extortion?

[.577 Tyrannosaur]

We already give then 2 Billion dollars in aid per-year, and they still ask for more? Ridiculous...

[Phil V.]

You asked, "In what way is this extortion?"

Still, a senior Jerusalem source on Saturday said that despite the delays, "we shall get the money."

Perhaps "extortion" is the wrong word.

What word would use as a modifier for the word, "CONFIDENCE" (game?)?

[upcountryhorseman]

You've got that right! We want more privatization.

[jagrmeister]

What are we getting for the $12 Billion in aid? We could likely have a military presence in that area without the need for that aid package.

[Phil V.]

What are we getting for the $12 Billion in aid?

What we will be getting absent the 12 billion is a different president.