The Bush administration has renewed its request for aid
to Israel and the Palestinian Authority.
President George Bush has asked Congress for $250 million in additional
aid for Israel and the Palestinians. The move came less than a month after
Bush rejected a $5.1 billion congressional request that was to have included
the funding.
The Bush request is meant to help Israel improve security against
Palestinian suicide bombings and other attacks. Under this request Israel
would receive $200 million. Egypt, which had requested $130 million, was not
allocated any funds.
The administration wants to provide $50 million for the Palestinians.
Officials said this allocation would grant humanitarian assistance to the
Palestinians and not be relayed to the Palestinian Authority.
"These amendments continue my commitment to provide necessary resources
to enhance transportation security, to assist Israel and the people of the
West Bank and Gaza, and to fight the growing pandemic of HIV/AIDS among
developing countries," Bush said in a letter to House of Representatives
Speaker Dennis Hastert.
The specifics of the aid to Israel were not outlined in Bush's letter.
Israel receives about $3 billion in annual economic and military aid.
Officials said the $50 million to the Palestinians would help maintain
humanitarian, refugee and reconstruction assistance projects for the West
Bank and Gaza Strip. The projects are being managed by non-governmental
organizations.
