White House reviewing Israeli aid request
From John King
CNN
WASHINGTON (CNN) -- The White House said Tuesday it was appointing teams to review a request from Israel for a multibillion-dollar aid package. Israeli officials appealed to the administration this week, saying the country's economy was being punished by the war on terrorism and a global economic slump.
U.S. and Israeli officials said the request was for $4 billion in extra military assistance and up to $10 billion in loan guarantees for economic programs; at $3 billion a year, Israel already is the top recipient of U.S. foreign aid.
"The United States, with this long-term commitment we have to Israel's security, prosperity and economic development, is putting together a team to address with the Israelis their economic situation," White House press secretary Ari Fleischer said at Tuesday's briefing.
The discussions come at a time the United States also is preparing a new aid package to Turkey, a key NATO ally whose bases and political support are viewed as critical in any military campaign against Iraq.
In the case of Israel, the new aid discussions are "not directly related to compensation in the event of an attack," Fleischer said. But U.S. officials say favorable consideration of a more generous aid package could help the administration if it came to the point of having to pressure Israel to show restraint during any military campaign against Iraq.
The White House will first review the Israeli request and then make a recommendation to Congress sometime next year, administration officials said.
