Bush asks for new aid for Israel, Palestinians

Agence France-Presse ^ | Thursday, 05-Sep-2002

[RCW2001]

WASHINGTON, Sept 5 (AFP) - US President George W. Bush asked Congress Wednesday for an additional 250 million dollars in aid for Israel and the Palestinians as part of his effort to combat terror and alleviate suffering in the West Bank and Gaza Strip.

The funds are part of a little publicized 996-million-dollars funding request designed to help Israel stop suicide bombings, assist Palestinians with their reconstruction projects, bolster airport security and step up the fight against the AIDS epidemic.

But in sending the request to Capitol Hill, Bush appears to have gone back on a pledge given less than a month ago to spend "none" of this money.

"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.

According to the White House's Office of Management and Budget, 200 million dollars from the package are being earmarked "to support Israel in its efforts in the war on terrorism."

No specifics have been provided.

If approved, the funds would add to the about three billion dollars the Jewish state receives from the United States annually in military and economic aid.

Fifty million dollars are being proposed to pay for various humanitarian, refugee and reconstruction assistance projects being implemented or planned in the West Bank and Gaza by various non-governmental organizations.

But "none of the assistance for the West Bank and Gaza would be provided to the Palestinian Authority," assured Nancy Dorn, deputy director of the OMB.

The Bush administration insists the Palestinian Authority must undergo radical reform before there can be any movement toward declaring a Palestinian state.

There is also growing sentiment in Congress for suspending all aid to the Palestinians until the suicide attacks stop.

The request also contains 200 million dollars for a programs that aims to reduce the transmission of the AIDS virus from infected mothers to their children at birth.

Another 546 million dollars are earmarked to further bolster airport security by purchasing, among other things, new explosives detections systems.

But the request may present a political problem for Bush, who last month rejected 5.1 billion dollars in congressionally-approved funds financing the very same projects.

Speaking at an economic forum in Waco, Texas, Bush said that although he supported new aid to Israel and the Palestinians, he did not like unrelated spending programs attached to the package by lawmakers and would block it in the name of "spending restraint."

"We'll spend none of it," the president declared to applause from his supporters.

[Coop]

There is also growing sentiment in Congress for suspending all aid to the Palestinians until the suicide attacks stop.

Amen to that! It's fine they're not giving the PA terrorists money, but then they want to reward Palestinian civilians. Well, let these "innocent" Palestinian civilians start cleaning up their own mess and stop the terrorism - or at least quit publicly celebrating the slaughter of Jewish children and grandmothers - and then maybe we can talk about aid.

[ppaul]

"These amendments continue my commitment to provide necessary resources to enhance...the people of the West Bank and Gaza, and to fight the growing pandemic of HIV/AIDS among developing countries..."

More political correctness run amuck, at the expense of hard-working American families.
Yeah, Mr. President, let's send even more millions of dollars to the sponsors of terrorism and to assuage the Sodomite lobby.
Sheesh!

[Diogenesis]

Will the US really send more money to the murderers of Americans?

Will the US send more money for the terrorists
to spread HIV/Hepatitis and other diseases
through virus-ridden debris seen in the victims' xrays.

[h.a. cherev]

the Sodomite lobby

Sorry, I don't understand this comment at all.

[gaspar]

Since 1948,through its own funding and by funding the UN relief agency operating in Palestine, the US has likely spent well in excess of a billion dollars on people who have in the past, do now, and will in the future hate us. Can't we stop this cycle of stupidity once and for all? If the Europeans love the Palestinians so much then they should open their pocketbooks.

[SirAngus]

Yet more taxpayer dollars spent wisely!!!! :O