US giving
Israel another $28m.
to fight terror
Jerusalem Post,
January 08, 2002
By Janine Zacharia
WASHINGTON (January 08, 2002 ) - The US is giving Israel an extra
$28 million to purchase counterterrorism equipment, primarily robots
that perform controlled explosions on suspected bombs, The Jerusalem
Post has learned.
The money was found in the 2001 Pentagon budget. It is currently
being transferred to the State Department, from which it will be
awarded to Israel.
US officials indicated the funds would be given to Israel soon.
Internal Security Minister Uzi Landau raised the request with American
officials during his July visit here.
Israel has nearly depleted its reservoir of robots over the past
15 months.
"The Israelis suffered a horrendous amount of bombings over
the past several months," one American official said. "The
US has helped out with some equipment to save lives in the past.
Much of that equipment has been damaged or destroyed, so a request
was made to see if we could come up with the money to replace the
damaged equipment and we did."
In addition to robots and associated parts, some of the money will
be spent on sophisticated X-ray equipment to examine suspect containers
and trucks.
Under the terms of the allotment, Israel must spend the money in
the US.
Israel and the US have pledged repeatedly since September 11 to
work together on counter-terrorism initiatives. The new money is
in addition to the roughly $2 billion annual military assistance
and $720m. economic aid.
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