PM Bureau chief: US not linking roadmap plan to aid request

The Jerusalem Post ^ | 20 February 2003 | JANINE ZACHARIA

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Feb. 20, 2003
PM Bureau chief: US not linking roadmap plan to aid request
By JANINE ZACHARIA

Senior Israeli officials met their US counterparts Thursday to continue discussions on Israel's request for a $12 billion aid package that would include $4 billion in direct assistance and $8 billion in loan guarantees.

Prime Minister Sharon's bureau chief Dov Weisglass, who led the delegation, said he expected "to conclude the information parameters of the negotiations."

Asked whether the US administration tried to enforce a linkage of its demands of Israel according to President George W. Bush's 'roadmap' plan for Palestinian statehood with the aid request, Weisglass said no such remarks were made.

He said that after Friday, Israel's request would be "submitted for consideration and approval by the political level." "We do hope we'll be able to conclude in a timely manner," he told reporters.

Israel has requested the money - which would be on top of its roughly $2.7 billion in annual assistance - to help cover costs associated with preparations for war with Iraq and ease some of the economic pains Israel has suffered as a result of its fight against Palestinian terrorism.

Sources familiar with the talks said the administration had no problem with the $8 billion loan guarantee but that the US would offer less than the $4 billion Israel has requested in direct assistance.

Weisglass was joined by Finance Ministry Director-General Ohad Marani and Defense Ministry Director-General Amos Yaron. Wednesday, members of the team met with National Security Adviser Condoleezza Rice. Yaron also met separately with Undersecretary of Defense Doug Feith at the Pentagon. On Thursday, the Israeli team met with Deputy Secretary of State Richard Armitage and then with a US working group led by Bush's Deputy National Security Adviser for Economic Affairs Gary Edson.

In their meetings, Weisglass also discussed the Quartet's roadmap for Israeli-Palestinian peace and briefed US officials on Prime Minister Sharon's recent meetings with Palestinian Finance Minister Salam Fayyad and Palestinian Legislative Council Chairman Abu Ala.

The Israeli aid request is being discussed as the US and Turkey haggle over a possible aid package linked to a war with Iraq.

Israeli ambassador to the US Danny Ayalon said the talks between the US and Israel were "in parallel" with the Turkish negotiations and that one track would not impact the other. Weisglass also said that he did not believe the US would condition Israel's aid request on Israeli implementation of the roadmap.