U.S. to increase military aid to Israel
From Elise Labott
CNN
WASHINGTON (CNN) -- The United States has promised to increase military aid to Israel next year, the State Department said Thursday.
After a two-day meeting of the U.S.-Israel Joint Political Military Group, the Bush administration made the commitments in an exchange of letters, reaffirming its "commitment to maintaining and enhancing Israel's security and qualitative edge over any combination of adversaries," the State Department said in a written statement.
"These letters emphasize that this administration fully appreciates the dangers Israel faces from proliferation and conventional arms build-ups in the region, as well as acknowledges the substantial risks Israel has taken to pursue peace," the statement said.
A State Department official told CNN that in addition to the bi-lateral military relationship between the two countries, the talks addressed the threats posed by Iraq, Iran and foreign terrorist organizations.
For the 2003 fiscal year the United States is giving Israel $2.04 billion in military aid. The proposed $2.16 billion for fiscal year 2004 is separate from U.S. economic support to Israel, which the countries have agreed will decrease and eventually disappear by 2008, with a commensurate raise in military assistance..
