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December 1, 2000/Kislev 10, 5761, Vol. 53, No.10
Added funds to aid Israel still up in air
BARRY COHEN
Community Editor
Confusion over the outcome of the U.S. presidential election and the limited time remaining in the 106th Congress may have repercussions that extend beyond the American people.
In mid-November, the White House had asked Congress for an additional aid package of $450 million for Israel, $225 million for Egypt and $75 million for Jordan.
Four weeks after the elections, which candidate, Vice President Al Gore or Gov. George W. Bush, will garner enough electoral votes to be the next U.S. president remains unknown.
When and in what form the additional aid request will begin the process of congressional consideration, and how Arizona's congressional delegation will vote are in doubt.
"It's a little nebulous at the moment," said Rep. John Shadegg, a Republican representing Arizona's 4th Congressional District, of the White House's request. In principle, Shadegg added, "I am not going to change a long-standing position of support for the (peace) process."
More than half the requested additional funding to Israel - $250 million - would offset an estimated $925-950 million Israel spent to pull its troops out of Lebanon in May, said Michael Shapiro, spokesman for the American Israel Public Affairs Committee in Washington, D.C. The remaining $200 million would be used to develop a defense system to counter missile threats from Iran and Iraq.
The funds for Egypt would be devoted to port and naval security, "to create an integrated coastal water defense system"; and money for Jordan would support border security, Shapiro said.
Shapiro said the request would be presented to Congress either as a freestanding piece of legislation or as part of a multi-million dollar omnibus bill. Further, the request may be considered by the 106th Congress, which reconvenes Dec. 4, or the 107th Congress, convening Jan. 3.
Arizona Rep. Jim Kolbe, R-5th Dist., does not expect the recommendation to be addressed by the current Congress. He said since Israel will receive funding from the annual foreign operations bill at the start of 2001, "I do not see any compelling reason to take up (the White House's request) immediately."
In October, Congress passed the annual foreign operations bill, granting Israel $2.82 billion - $1.98 billion for military and $840 million for domestic programs - as part of a total $14.9 billion package.
Kolbe, who voted in favor of the foreign operations bill, said he does not yet know whether he would support the additional funding package.
Joe Eule, chief of staff for Rep. J.D. Hayworth, R-6th Dist., said Hayworth's support would depend upon what else is included with the additional foreign aid package.
"Congressman Hayworth has been a staunch supporter of Israel and encourages others on the floor to be the same," said Eule.
Hayworth voted against the foreign operations bill, according to Eule, because "he did not feel that it was a wise use of the taxpayers' money," in addition to the fact it lacked a provision that would have denied foreign assistance funds to programs promoting abortion.
Matt Brooks, Washington, D.C.-based executive director of Republican Jewish Coalition, said the 106th Congress is unlikely to take action on the White House's request; he sees the lame-duck session doing minimal work.
Brooks said if Bush becomes the next president, "He has made it clear about his support of the peace process in principal and to consider Israel's needs and resources."
The Republican coalition will be involved in every step of the allocations process, said Brooks, including the appropriations committee, building public support, educating congressmen and fostering coalitions with other groups including AIPAC.
The additional-funding measure "should be voted on and supported," said Mark Fleisher, chairman of the Arizona Democratic Party.
"Everyone saw (Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak) was more than willing to be fair," Fleisher said of Camp David II, the Israeli-Palestinian peace talks in July, in which Barak put several concessions on the table for Palestinian consideration.
The United States should continue to support Israel in its efforts to achieve peace, Fleisher added.
"I do not know whether (the aid request) will be fast-tracked," said Shadegg. But considering the "tenuous state of affairs" in the Middle East, with ongoing hostilities between the Palestinians and the Israelis, additional funding for the sake of peace would be a priority for Republicans and Democrats alike.
Shadegg said he typically makes decisions concerning funding for Middle Eastern nations on his own.
"If I have any doubt or want to kick an idea around," he might call Rep. Matt Salmon, R-Ariz. 1st Dist., or Sen. Jon Kyl, R-Ariz., who he said are always on top of Middle East issues and those relating to Israel.
Representatives Ed Pastor, D-2nd Dist.; Bob Stump, R-3rd Dist.; Salmon; and Sens. Kyl and John McCain did not return calls.
In a related matter, the 107th Congress will convene with an increased Jewish presence. While the number of Jewish senators will shrink from the current 11 to possibly 10, the number of Jewish members of the House of Representatives will grow from 23 to 27.
If Gore defeats Bush, Sen. Joseph Lieberman D-Conn., a Jew, would vacate his seat. At issue is whether Connecticut Gov. John Rowland appoints a Jew to take his place.
In Florida, where a race for the U.S. House was nearly as close as the race for the White House, Republican Rep. E. Clay Shaw narrowly defeated Elaine Bloom, who is Jewish.
In New Jersey, Republican Dick Zimmer, a Jew, was contesting Democrat Rush Holt's declaration of victory but conceded Nov. 29.
Four new House members are Eric Cantor, R-Va.; Susan Davis, D-Calif.; Steve Israel, D-N.Y.; Adam Schiff, D-Calif.; and Jane Harman, D-Calif., who returns to the seat she once held, having defeated Republican incumbent Steven Kuykendall.
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