Israel Again Requests $3 Billion in U.S. Aid; Envoy Voices Optimism
JERUSALEM — Israel, for the fourth year in a row, asked the United States today for $3 billion in yearly aid and U.S. Ambassador William Brown said he feels certain it will be granted without political conditions.
Finance Minister Shimon Peres asked for the aid at a meeting with Brown. Israel receives the largest amount of U.S. foreign aid.
Brown said he does not think the Bush Administration or Congress will use aid as a lever to force Israeli concessions in response to the Palestinian uprising in the occupied West Bank and Gaza Strip.
He also said the request will probably be approved despite efforts to cut the giant U.S. budget deficit.
The grant is apportioned into $1.2 billion in economic support and $1.8 billion in military assistance.
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