WASHINGTON Ñ A House committee has approved billions of dollars in
military aid to U.S. allies in the Middle East.
Egypt, Israel and Jordan appear to be the main beneficiaries of foreign
aid legislation approved by the House Appropriations Committee. The
committee voted on Thursday to approve a $16.5 billion foreign and export
financing bill in fiscal year 2003. The fiscal year begins October 1.
The bill allocates funds to the Palestinian Authority. But the House
conditioned any transfer of money to democratic reforms.
Under the legislation, Israel would receive $2.1 billion in military aid
and $600 million in economic assistance. Israel would also receive $200
million in aid for counterinsurgency efforts, Middle East Newsline reported.
The House committee also approved $1.3 billion in military aid to Egypt.
Egypt will also receive $615 million in economic assistance.
The proposal to aid to Egypt came under fire in the committee. Rep.
Steny Hoyer, a Maryland Democrat, said he objected to what he termed was
heavy assistance to Egypt while it violates human rights and tolerates hate.
Hoyer said Egypt's media publishes anti-Semitic and anti-Christian images.
The House bill includes $50 million in humanitarian assistance for the
West Bank and Gaza. But the House appeared divided on aid to help build a
Palestinian state.
After a vigorous debate, the committee approved an amendment that would
condition any funding for Palestinian state-building to the adoption of
democratic reforms. The amendment to withold money from the Palestinians if
they fail to implement democratic reforms can be waived if the president
decides U.S. national security is at stake.
Jordan would receive a boost in U.S. aid under the bill. The House
committee approved $198 million in military and $250 million in economic
assistance to the Hashemite kingdom.
The full House will consider the foreign aid bill. Meanwhile, the Senate
is also proceeding with its version of the legislation. Both bills would
have to be reconciled before anything is sent to President George Bush for
his signature.
