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Washington Watch
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APY
12-MONTH CD
Aid Bill Trashed
Partisan politics and pitting
Israel against U.S. elderly.
the Foreign Operations bill, preferring
instead to wait for an emergency
spending measure that GOP leaders
now say may not materialize.
resident Bill Clinton's veto
The Republican Jewish Coalition,
of the foreign aid bill con-
echoing statements by party leaders,
taining regular military and
claimed the president "has delayed
economic assistance for
much-needed economic and military
Israel touched off a tidal wave of parti-
assistance to Israel." In fact, aid will
san recriminations this week and
continue under the "contin-
warnings from Israeli offi-
uing resolution" Congress
cials that rhetoric
will
pass if this week's bud-
spawned by the bruising
get
negotiations
do not
budget battle could even-
resolve
the
aid
squabble.
tually endanger that
Early in the week,
country's big aid allot-
Republican leaders agreed
ment.
to a White House summit
The furor included a
in an effort to resolve the
harsh statement from
budget impasse. But few
House Majority Whip
observers expect a quick res-
Tom DeLay (R-Texas)
olution of the volatile aid
warning that foreign aid
question.
increases would hurt
President Bill Clinton
elderly Americans.
"There's been a nasti-
ness to the (aid) debate we haven't
seen in many years," said one Israeli
official. 'And even though support for
Israel is strong, some in Congress have
The delayed Wye Agreement package
directly made the argument that for-
is much on the minds of Israeli offi-
eign aid takes food out of the mouths
cials — especially since Jerusalem is
of Americans, which is a very disturb-
already starting to absorb the heavy
ing development."
costs of the latest West Bank redeploy-
Both Congress and the administra-
ment.
tion described their actions as a matter
This week, Deputy Defense
of conscience, not politics. In his veto
Minister Ephraim Sneh was on
message, Clinton said the appropria-
Capitol Hill in an effort to shake loose
tions measure — which includes
the money.
Israel's regular $2.8 billion allocation
Sneh — a career military officer
— "puts at risk America's 50-year tra-
before his rebirth as a Labor politician
dition of leadership for a safer, more
— said he hopes Congress will appro-
prosperous and democratic world."
priate the money before the end of the
The measure falls some $2 billion
session, but expressed concern that
short of administration demands, and
political battles having nothing to do
does not include sufficient funds for
with Israel or the Mideast peace talks
Russian denuclearization, Third World
could derail it.
debt relief and peacekeeping opera-
"Everybody understands that nei-
ther the security of Israel nor the
tions.
A White House spokesman also
peace process can fall victim to the
said the veto was justified because the
political fight taking place in
spending bill did not include the first
Washington," he said. "Support for
installment of the $1.8 billion in extra
Israel has always been a bipartisan
aid promised Israel, Jordan and the
issue."
Palestinians at last year's Wye River
In his Capitol Hill meetings, Sneh
stressed that the additional Wye aid is
summit.
But pro-Israel activists pointed out
based on Israel's current military
that the administration made no seri-
needs, not on political calculations
ous effort to add the Wye money to
involving the peace process.
JAMES D. BESSER
Washington Correspondent
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