Washington Watch Chanukah List? Israel presents its aid request to Washington. JAMES D. BESSER Washington Correspondent A s expected; Israel has requested a massive new package of American aid, to . include both outright mili- tary assistance and loan guarantees. Israeli newspapers have indicated that the Bush administration and Congress are all but certain to approve the deal; pro-Israel activists and con- gressional sources say getting the aid will require an all-out lobbying effort and some old-fashioned luck. "Israel will get a sympathetic hear- ing, because Israel has been a loyal ally, and it needs help," said Rep. Eliot Engel, D-N.Y. "But everything is going to be a tough sell in the next Congress because of the deficit." The next Congress will face unprecedented budget pressure because of the ongoing economic slowdown — and, according to Democrats, because of the Bush administration's big 2001 tax cuts. The budget crunch is why Israel is asking mostly for loan guarantees, in which the government backs up private loans, along with a yet-to-be-deter- mined amount of additional military aid, possibly as high as $4 billion. Israel already gets almost $2.2 bil- lion in military aid, with small increas- es every year and small decreases in economic aid, according to a formula worked out between the two countries during the Clinton administration. But even when there is strong politi- cal support for it, getting extra aid in the current economic and political cli- mate will be difficult. Pro-Israel activists point out that even a $200 million supplementary package supported by both the Bush administration and Congress has been held up because of the budget crunch. The new aid request came in a meeting on Monday between Dov Weisglass, a top aide to Israel Prime Minister Ariel Sharon, and U.S. National Security Adviser Condoleezza Rice. Israel's U.S. ambassador, Danny Ayalon, and Ohad Marani, the Finance Ministry director-general and a former economic official at the Israel embassy in Washington, were also at the White House meeting. "At the meeting, the Israeli side dis- cussed in detail the current situation in the Israeli economy, the rising unemployment, the ongoing defense expenditures that will only increase if there is an Iraq war," said an Israeli official. "It was a good meeting; we feel the administration is open to the idea of helping us." But the official said discussions are still in the preliminary stages. "The administration said they will look at the request and get back to us. This is very much the beginning of a process, not the end." A veteran pro-Israel lobbyist said the economic need is real, but the huge numbers that have appeared in recent press accounts of the aid request may have more to do with Israeli politics than with the economic bottom line. "Prime-Minister Sharon is eager to show that he's the one who can best manage relations with Washington," the Israeli official said. "What we may be seeing now is a pattern of leaks and trial balloons intended to impress Israeli voters. Everybody in Washington knows that when they start the serious negotiations, the actu- al totals will be much less. GOP Tactic? Democratic leaders and their support- ers in the Jewish community are hud- dling to devise strategies to keep from getting outflanked on Israel-related issues by Congressional Republicans. The source of the Democratic angst: a GOP congressional leadership that is more hawkishly pro-Israel than ever, and which may play the Israel card as part of its effort to undermine their new Democratic counterparts. "The new (Democratic) leadership is very much pro-Israel, but their cau-. cus also includes liberals who aren't ready to go along with every new reso- lution that seems to support Ariel Sharon or Binyamin Netanyahu," said a Democratic congressional staffer. "That represents a vulnerability for the Democrats and an opportunity for the Republicans, whose new leadership is. very supportive of Likud positions." Incoming House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif. , "has a very WASHINGTON WATCH on page 26 0r son's Place features the original cigar Handbag Collection carried by such stars as Melanie- Griffith, Sally Field and Angelina Jolie. Each beautifully handcrafted design is a unique one-of-a-kind or limited edition design. these versatile handbags travel from daytime to evening, casual to elegant and are truly individual works of art. Orson's Designs are available exclusively at Scott Gregory in Bloomfield Hills, MI. . 248.203.9050 AUTO LEASING fit BUYING MADE EASY paranoia* poor tadgetent, ONE PHONE CALI. IS ALL IT TAKES feelings of worthies/mess, Specializing in: &anxious, depresaion, BUSINESS FLEETS HIGH-END IMPORTS FLEXIBLE LEASES HIGH-MILEAGE LEASES INDIVIDUAL LEASES islptilsive, erratic behavior, All Makes and Models Foreign or Domestic inaM1 ity to concentrates Ask about our Zero-Down Leases No Cash Due at Delivery We Po A 11 The Work Saving You Time and Money sleep disturbances, grandiose ideas, reicida3. thoUghtst feelings of hopelessness. It's a lot to cope wit)). 4nren harder to cope with alone. LEE ROTH GAGE LEASING COMPANY 28801 WOODWARD AVE. 248-414.5363 gage1easing@arneritech.net a division of THE GAGE AUTOMOTIVE GROUP IN BUSINESS FOR 55 YEARS www.detroitjewishnews.com Find out before your mother! Call Kadima to volunteer or find out how you can support people with mental illness-so they are not alone. Please call Janette (248) 589-8235 15999 West 12 Mile Road Southfield, MI 48075 O 11/29 2002 25