Free Republic

No decision on aid yet, Rice tells Netanyahu Israel’s minister of finance told the US national security advisor: Don’t forget we support you over Iraq. Zeev Klein 10 Mar 03 09:54Minister of Finance Benjamin Netanyahu spoke by telephone with US National Security Advisor Condoleezza Rice last night about the loan guarantees Israel is requesting from the US. Rice called Netanyahu and told him that the US administration had taken no decision as yet on the aid package Israel is requesting. Netanyahu told Rice that “Israel’s economic situation is extremely difficult.” He pointed out that Israel was supporting the US over...

You've got your troubles… Israeli aid requests must take account of America’s own fiscal problems. Yoav Karny 6 Mar 03 14:14Israel’s relations with the US continue to be surprisingly strong. As recently as 10 years ago, no one would have automatically assumed these relations would withstand the tests they have in fact met and passed. US public opinion surveys continue to report a deep admiration for Israel, even when Israel’s popularity in the rest of the world in at a low. Israel’s popularity in the US is a strategic asset, the importance of which cannot be exaggerated. Nevertheless, for that...

Defense source: Defense budget must be changed A top defense source: We decided to how we’d bridge the differences in the first quarter, but no [US] aid arrived. Dror Marom 4 Mar 03 11:55“The defense budget must be changed,” a top defense sources said, adding that a decision will be taken before the end of the month. Minister of Defense Shaul Mofaz claims it is impossible to cut more than NIS 900 million from the 2003 defense budget, compared with the basis for the 2002 budget. He said the Ministry of Finance supports a cut of NIS 4-5 billion, which...