HIGHLY RATED Washington Watch S % 600 • 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 MONEY MARKET JWY po A t Paramount Bank, we always look out for your best interest. Our CD's and Money Market accounts offer the highest returns in the area. That is because we believe our customers are our greatest asset. Paramount Bank is your hometown bank. From our convenient hours to our wide range of products, we work hard to meet all your financial needs. Of course, all accounts are FDIC-insured. Visit today or call 1 800 421 BANK and discover the bank where personal service is Paramount. - - - BRANCH Israel Faces Pullout Bill 1732 West Maple Road • Birmingham, MI 48009 (248) 723-4800 • FAX (248) 723-4848 HOURS: MONDAY-FRIDAY 9-6 • SATURDAY 9-12 PARAMOUNT BANK Your Hometown Bank INTRODUCING OUR NEW HEADQUARTERS 31000 Northwestern Highway, Suite 200, Farmington Hills, MI 48334 (248) 538-8600 • FAX (248) 538-8410 *Annual Percentage Yield for balances of $500 minimum. **Annual Percentage Yield for balances of 52.500 minimum. FDIC INSURED • E mployed VISIT OUR DESIGN CENTER & SHOWROOM Hours: Mon.-Fri. 7:30 am-5 pm Saturday 8:30 am-3 pm 10/22 1999 In The Warehouse District I- 696 (exit 14-csole/ 10 1 ") 9 Mole • 8 Mile Northesel * A l AMERICAN FIREPLAa fEJDER