U.S. to Withhold Some Funds from Israel

Reuters ^ | 9-15-03

[PatrioticCowboy]

U.S. to Withhold Some Funds from Israel

Mon September 15, 2003 04:24 PM ET

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The Bush administration said on Monday it planned to withhold some funds from Israel because of its settlement activities in Palestinian areas.

The deductions would come from a $9 billion package of U.S. loan guarantees to help Israel weather a deep recession and fiscal crisis.

But administration officials said they have yet to decide whether to penalize Israel for building a fence through the West Bank. Congressional aides doubted the White House would carry out that threat.

Under legislation authorizing the loan guarantees, the United States would deduct from the face value of the loan guarantees an amount equal to any Israeli spending on settlement activities in Palestinian areas.

An administration official said those deductions were consistent with past U.S. policies. He did not specify an amount that would be deducted or when it would take place.

"We can't preclude any deductions (for fence construction). That is still a matter for discussion," the official added.

President Bush has called the fence "a problem" because it makes it hard to develop a contiguous Palestinian state.

Israel and its allies in Congress argue that expenditures on the security fence should not be deducted from the loan guarantees.

Israel wants the barrier -- in sections a concrete wall and in others metal fencing -- to keep out Palestinian suicide bombers. Palestinians describe it as a new "Berlin Wall" that grabs territory they want to be part of an independent state in the West Bank and Gaza Strip.

Israel and its allies in Congress argue that expenditures on the security fence should not be deducted from the loan guarantees.

Bush on Monday designed Secretary of State Colin Powell to oversee the loan program.

[bitcon]

More then that Israel deserves to be defended by the US, obviously with help from Israelies and Israel, but they should never be left to suffer alone.

[Diogenesis]

PLOwell: "It is an honor to meet the murderer of Mr. Kl.inghoffer and
so many other Americans.
I will soon run the World Bank and want your billions of stolen dollars there.
So how many millions do you need to ahh... you know ...?"

[WhiteGuy]

Israel needs to be allowed to go ahead and finish off the radical Islamofascists.

My point exactly.

The "roadmap" advocates appeasment and guarantees tens of billions of American taxdollars for generations to come.

Isreal will TCB if "allowed to".

[MarkL]

Gaza and the West Bank are not contiguous. For that matter neither is the U.S. There is a large swath of Canada between Alaska and Washington.

And the last time I tried taking a drive to Hawaii, I got rather wet!

Mark

[bitcon]

Yes there is but if done right I'm sure come of it could be reduced. Alberta if treated right would probably vote to leave Canada and go to the US. BC may but it would be alot harder to do as Vancouver seems to be the gathering place for anit-Americanism in the West.

[The Westerner]

"President Bush has called the fence 'a problem' because it makes it hard to develop a contiguous Palestinian state."

Not only is our President a coward for using weasly language to get out of saying an unpopular thing, he is also beginning to disgust me in a way he never did before.

Combine withholding of a loan with "let no Israeli dead body stand in the way to my Roadmap." He has the soul of a true politician who is frightened to do the right thing for fear of being unpopular with his enemies.

Someone have the picture of the Saudi Prince and Bush at his Ranch in Texas, when Bush declared that they have a "bond" of friendship? That is the essence of this man. Bonding with nefarious people to make himself feel warm inside.

[WhiteGuy]

Good for you!

but the "taxes" portion should not be included in your total.

There is no provision in our sacred constitution that provides for foreign welfare.

[FrdmLvr]

This is sickening. Israel has been fighting the war on terror since its inception in 1948. She deserves all the help she can get

Couldn't agree with you more. I have a hard time seeing President Reagan as W's inspiration as he'll sometimes claim.

[WhiteGuy]

"Israel is not causing our nation financial harm.

We need to back them as much as they need"

---

OK, I'll make you a deal, as soon as our "government" allows US to keep what we earn..................

I'll join you in working tirelessly to raise, through private donations only, an amount equal to "as much as they need".

Untill then, I believe that OUR earnings belong to US.

[Recovering_Democrat]

We must back Israel regardless. I believe we will find backchannels to help IDF and Sharon.

[Rocky Mountain High]

What does that incident have to do with Israel? It was a separate attack.

Did you take your Prozac today?

[Rocky Mountain High]

What does that incident have to do with Israel? It was a separate attack.

Did you take your Prozac today?

[Bill O Right]

$9 billion package of U.S. loan guarantees to help Israel weather a deep recession and fiscal crisis.

According to some posters on this site, Israel doesn't need US help or money.

Does America get a vote in this outrageous amount? The US has always forgiven loans to Israel. I can think of better uses here in the homeland and for our military that the money would be better spent on.

I vote 2 billion tops as more than enought to GIVE our ally!

Instead of all the bitching...perhaps some of you peeps should show some gratitude for the massive amounts we give Israel. Is there another country that aids Israel in any manner?

DON"T BITE THE HAND THAT FEEDS YOU!!!

[KriegerGeist]

If the Trans-Jordanians (a.k.a. Palestinians) had taken over all of Israel without Israel keeping them occupied, then they would be here blowing themselves up in our cities and buses.

I know what is wrong with the U.S. Department of State, but I don't know what is wrong with the Bush administration...are they kow-towing to them?

If anyone is honest with history and knows the facts, they know that Israel belongs to Israel and these Trans-Jordanians belong back in Jordan. Jordan does not want them because they tried to overthrow the government, so they kicked them out. The have trashed Lebanon and would do (are doing) the same in Israel.

They need to be sent packing to Jordan and let the Jordanians deal with them.

Everything else is an anti-Jewish-anti-Israel lie.

[KriegerGeist]

I love your pictures. Do you have any of Colin Powell shaking hands and embracing Bashir Ass-wad, Saddam or Osama bin Ladin? I'm sure there are some hidden out there somewhere...

[KriegerGeist]

"Just when Bush is starting to pull some Jewesh voters over, he goes and does this?"

"I'm beginning to think he's his father's son."

Snatching defeat from the jaws of victory...
Go New World Order-ers

[sam]

It's about time! Who's the dog and who's the tail here? Israel is behaving like a spoilt kid - it needs some "tough love".

[onedoug]

There is no provision in our sacred constitution that provides for foreign welfare.

True. Though a good weapons system requires maintenance.

...In addition to other "sacred" considerations.

[dennisw]

USA should be paying Israel bonuses for bumping off Arafat and his ilk. And for building a security fence which leads to more calmness, fewer attacks.