A REPUBLICAN-led committee of the House approved $200-million in aid for Israel on Thursday despite earlier objections by President George Bush’s administration.
Unable to head off the move, Secretary of State Colin Powell persuaded the House Appropriations Committee’s Republican leaders to add $50-million in humanitarian help for Palestinians. Both provisions were approved by voice vote.
”The secretary believes he has no problem with this amendment, but it would be much more useful to the diplomatic efforts of the administration if it were balanced” to include the Palestinian funds, said Rep. Jim Kolbe, chairman of the Appropriations panel’s foreign operations subcommittee, who spoke to Powell.
The provision, which had strong bipartisan support, was the latest congressional show of solidarity with Israel despite administration warnings against provoking Arab nations.
In the weeks leading up to the committee’s debate, administration officials urged lawmakers to delay any effort to provide additional aid to Israel. The country already is the biggest recipient of US foreign assistance, at $2,8-billion.
The language providing the money underlined the ideological support Israel has among conservative Republicans and a reluctance by Republican lawmakers to let Democrats alone lead an election-year effort likely to please many Jewish voters.
Even so, Rep. Sonny Callahan said the money was only being provided because of ”political ramifications.”
He said: ”the Israel lobby … comes to Washington and says we need to take advantage of this and we need to raise $200-million for Israel. …. Vote your convictions.”
The panel met amid reports that Israel was massing troops and tanks at its border with the Gaza Strip, two days after 15 Israelis died in the latest Palestinian suicide bombing.
The money was added to a package of defence and counter-terrorism spending for the remaining five months of the federal fiscal year, bringing its price to $29,4-billion. Completion of the overall bill was set for next Tuesday.
Congress approved nonbinding resolutions a week ago expressing support for Israel following futile administration efforts to forestall any formal congressional statements on the violence in
the Middle East.
An effort to add funds for Israel is also likely in the Senate, which is expected to write its own anti-terrorism legislation after the House approves its version, perhaps next week.
Asked about the extra aid for Israel, White House representative Ari Fleischer said, ”We’re taking a look at that now. Clearly, the president has supported and does support aid for Israel.”
State Department officials declined comment on the committee action.
Kolbe said the aid to Israel was for the military use, although aides later said it was economic assistance that can be used for security needs such as police.
He said the money for the Palestinians would be funnelled through the US Agency for International Development, a federal agency, not through the Palestinian Authority headed by Yasser Arafat.
Kolbe said the money would go to humanitarian purposes such as providing food, health care and housing in the West Bank and Gaza Strip.
The bill also contains $200-million to help the global fight against Aids, tuberculosis and malaria. ? Sapa-AP
09