More American aid coming?
צילום: עטא עוויסאת
Israel, U.S. renew pullout aid talks
Aid talks frozen following Hurricane Katrina; low-level contacts to be initiated
WASHINGTON - Israel and the United States renewed talks over American aid to the Jewish State to cover development projects in the southern Negev and northern Galilee regions following the pullout from the Gaza Strip over the summer.
Sympathizing with its closest ally, Israel withheld its request for a USD 2 billion financial package from Washington in August when Hurricane Katrina swept through Louisiana.
Over the summer, Prime Minister’s Office Director-General Ilan Cohen and senior officials of President George W. Bush’s administration met to discuss the details of the aid package. The issue has been frozen since the Katrina disaster.
Ynet has learnt that the United States is interested in renewing aid talks with Israel and initial low-level contacts have been scheduled for March, when Israel will be plunged in general elections scheduled for March 28.
U.S. officials hinted that the pullout aid package would not be included in the USD 453 billion U.S. defense budget.
