Прочее; Современность; Локальные конфликты; Евреи и Израиль;
Семитам и не только :) Israel Wants $350 M. From US Congress
Приветствую !
Jerusalem Post
January 3, 2001
Israel Wants $350 M. From US Congress
By Arieh O'Sullivan
TEL AVIV - Israel plans to ask the US Congress for $350 million in addition
to the $2 billion it already receives in annual
military aid, to help fund IDF preparations for war.
Israel had hoped to receive a grant of $450 million in special aid, but
Congress failed to approve it last month. That money
was to have helped pay for the withdrawal from Lebanon and anti-ballistic
missile projects.
A senior defense official said yesterday that the government plans to
re-submit its request for the extra funding as soon as
the Bush administration takes over.
Israel is also seeking another $350 million in special aid for building up
the military to meet the increased probability of
war breaking out, senior defense officials said.
The money to be requested is in addition to the funds that Israel would
expect to receive if a peace agreement is reached
with the Palestinians.
Meanwhile, the IDF began yesterday implementing instructions from Prime
Minister Ehud Barak to be prepared for the
possibility that the current violence could escalate into a regional
conflict.
These and other moves are based on a strategic working assessment that there
need to preparations for total war during
2001, a senior official said.
Officials believe that the conflict with the Palestinians could escalate to
the point of involving countries such as Egypt and
Jordan. The conflict could also be sparked along the Lebanon frontier and
involve Syria. Iran, Iraq and international
terrorist organizations are also considered potential foes.
Contrary to previous years when funding was diverted to long-range weapons
development, the IDF has been ordered to
stock up on spare parts and materiel and bring combat training up to par.
Barak has already promised the Defense Ministry a NIS 2 billion boost to its
NIS 37 billion proposed budget this year.
