-Caveat Lector- >From http://www.guardian.co.uk/uslatest/story/0,1282,-1723949,00.html
}}}>Begin House Panel Oks Extra Aid To Israel Friday May 10, 2002 6:30 AM WASHINGTON (AP) - A Republican-led House committee approved $200 million in aid for Israel on Thursday despite earlier objections by the Bush administration. Unable to head off the move, Secretary of State Colin Powell persuaded the House Appropriations Committee's GOP leaders to add $50 million in humanitarian help for Palestinians. Both provisions were approved by voice vote. ``The secretary believes he has no problem with this amendment, but it would be much more useful to the diplomatic efforts of the administration if it were balanced'' to include the Palestinian funds, said Rep. Jim Kolbe, R-Ariz., chairman of the Appropriations panel's foreign operations subcommittee, who spoke to Powell. The provision, which had strong bipartisan support, was the latest congressional show of solidarity for Israel despite administration warnings against provoking Arab nations. In the weeks leading up to the committee's debate, administration officials urged lawmakers to delay any effort to provide additional aid to Israel. The country already is the biggest recipient of U.S. foreign assistance, at $2.8 billion. The language providing the money was sponsored by Kolbe and Rep. Jack Kingston, R-Ga., and strongly backed by House GOP Whip Tom DeLay, R-Texas. It underlined the ideological support Israel has among conservative Republicans and a reluctance by GOP lawmakers to let Democrats alone lead an election-year effort likely to please many Jewish voters. Even so, Rep. Sonny Callahan, R-Ala., said the money was only being provided because of ``political ramifications.'' He said ``the Israel lobby ... comes to Washington and says we need to take advantage of this and we need to raise $200 million for Israel. .... Vote your convictions.'' The panel met amid reports that Israel was massing troops and tanks at its border with the Gaza Strip, two days after 15 Israelis died in the latest Palestinian suicide bombing. The money was added to a package of defense and counterterrorism spending for the remaining five months of the federal fiscal year, bringing its price to $29.4 billion. After a day prolonged by House procedural votes and a break to watch a subcommittee appearance by actress Julia Roberts, completion of the overall bill was set for next Tuesday. The initial House version of the measure cost $29.8 billion, about 10 percent over President Bush's $27.1 billion request. Republicans shrank the bill a bit in an effort to woo conservative support. The committee also: -Killed a provision that would have doubled the $2.50 per flight segment tax paid by airline passengers to help foot federal security costs. -Put tighter restrictions on $100 million Bush had requested for the Defense Department to give to U.S. allies in the fight against terrorism. Now, that money could not be spent without approval of Congress' Appropriations committees. -Approved by 38-18 a DeLay amendment barring the United States from cooperating with a permanent international war crimes tribunal that is to start its work in July. -Voted 32-31 for a provision aimed at pressuring Bush to release $34 million for overseas family planning programs that he has declined to spend. Congress approved nonbinding resolutions a week ago expressing support for Israel following futile administration efforts to forestall any formal congressional statements on the violence in the Middle East. An effort to add funds for Israel is also likely in the Senate, which is expected to write its own anti-terrorism legislation after the House approves its version, perhaps next week. Asked about the extra aid for Israel, White House spokesman Ari Fleischer said, ``We're taking a look at that now. Clearly, the president has supported and does support aid for Israel.'' Kolbe said the aid to Israel was for the military, though aides later said it was economic assistance that can be used for security items like police. He said the money for the Palestinians would be funneled through the U.S. Agency for International Development, not the Palestinian Authority headed by Yasser Arafat. Kolbe said the money would go to humanitarian purposes such as providing food, health care and housing in the West Bank and Gaza Strip. The overall bill contained $15.8 billion for the Reserves, National Guard and other defense programs; $5.8 billion to bolster safety at airports, dams, nuclear weapons plants and other domestic security initiatives; and $5.5 billion to help New York rebuild from the Sept. 11 attacks. It also contains $200 million to help the global fight against AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria. Guardian Unlimited © Guardian Newspapers Limited 2002 End<{{{ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Forwarded as information only; no automatic endorsement + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + In accordance with Title 17 U.S.C. section 107, this material is distributed without charge or profit to those who have expressed a prior interest in receiving this type of information for non-profit research and educational purposes only. + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + "Do not believe in anything simply because you have heard it. 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