Statement on U.S. Aid to Israel
(May 3, 1976)
U.S. AID TO ISRAEL
Q. Mr. President, I'm affiliated with a local magazine
called Region, and I'm also representing the Jewish Monitor today. And
they would like for me to ask you these two questions.
The first one, Mr. President, is: I would like to ask
you about your stand concerning our continued support to the nation
of Israel. Are you for continuing to send the amount that we pledged
to send to Israel or are you for cutting it?
THE PRESIDENT. Let me answer it this way. For the current
fiscal year, which ends July 1 or June 30, I recommended $2,200 million--$1,500
million in military assistance and the $700 million in economic assistance
for Israel. For the next fiscal year, which begins October 1, I recommended
a billion dollars in military assistance for Israel and $600 million
for economic assistance. So for a 25-month period, because we have a
transitional quarter in there, because we're going from one fiscal year
to another, I recommended $4,300 million for military and economic assistance
to Israel. That's the most any President has ever recommended for the
State of Israel.
Now, the big controversy, the big controversy comes
because some people allege that there was a pledge to give an additional
$500 million for 3 months.
I never gave that pledge to anybody, and I'm the only
one in a position who can give that in this Government at the present
time.
I happen to think because every adviser that I have,
whether they're military assistance advisers or economic advisers, they
tell me that the amount that I have recommended, which does not include
the $500 million for the transitional quarter, was fully adequate for
the economic and military security and survival of Israel.
So, on the basis of the advice given me by experts,
I think $4,300 million in a 25-month period is pretty good support for
the State of Israel.
Sources: Public Papers of the President |