Military Aid in Wye Peacemaking Bonus

November 6, 1999

ISSUE:

The $1.9 billion Wye River Memorandum funding package that President Clinton promised a year ago has not yet been included by Congress in foreign aid legislation with the exception of $100 million for Jordan. As the Congressional session nears adjournment, the Administration is pressing Congress to appropriate the Wye aid as a show of support for the Israeli-Palestinian peace process. A study of the content of the Wye aid package reveals that much of it is for military purposes unrelated to the actual implementation of the agreement.

ACTION:

Urge your Senators and Representative to support only those portions of the Wye River funding that are for purposes consistent with implementing Israel-Palestinian peace agreements and a comprehensive peace settlement in the region. The Wye River aid package should not include support for Israel's strategic military programs nor for military aid for Jordan.

WHEN:

Write as soon as possible; Congress is nearing adjournment.

WRITE OR PHONE:

The Honorable _______ The Honorable _________
U.S. Senate U.S. House of Representatives
Washington, DC 20510 Washington, DC 20515

Make these points in your letter:

• Urge the funding of Wye River agreement insofar as its funding is appropriately directed toward the direct costs of implementation of the agreement and for purposes consistent with a comprehensive peace in the region.
• Object to the use of $800 million -- 2/3 of Israel's portion of Wye River funding package -- to finance Israeli military projects seemingly oriented toward confrontation with Arab states or a potential threat from Iran. The emphasis Israel places on expanding its already massive military force tends to undermine the confidence needed by the Arab public and governments that Israel intends to be a peaceful neighbor. The U.S. government's enthusiastic support for Israel's arms buildup is inconsistent with and counterproductive to the espoused goals of our government's peacemaking efforts.
• Offer a similar objection to the earmarking of $200 million -- 2/3 of Jordan's portion -- to military aid. Instead, the United States should encourage measures designed to achieve military reductions and break the spiraling arms race in the region.

BACKGROUND:

For Israel, the Administration proposes a $1.2 billion foreign military financing (FMF) package to be dispersed over a three-year period with the following components:

• Relocation of bases from the West Bank to Israel proper: The total cost of the base relocations would come to about $200 million.
• Counter-terrorism needs: Funding of $175 million would provide explosive detection, identification equipment and field vehicles.
• Strategic military requirements: About $800 million would be used for Theater Missile Defense and related research and development costs "that could help Israel address the emerging Iranian missile threat" as well as for Longbow helicopter upgrades, electronic warfare aerial platforms, and other communications and munitions.
• For the Palestinians, the Administration proposes $400 million in economic support funds (ESF) dispersed over a three-year period for the following uses:
• $100 million for Wye implementation, perhaps including security equipment for moving Palestinian goods and workers through crossing points, cold storage equipment at the Gaza airport, safe passage infrastructure and resources for people-to-people programs.
• $100 million for community development, rule-of-law, maternal/child healthcare, scholarships for higher education and tourism development.
• $200 million for community development, infrastructure projects and support for a West Bank industrial park for private sector development.

For Jordan, $100 million for each of three years is proposed, but would include $100 million in economic support (ESF) and $200 million in military aid (FMF). Congress included $100 million in the FY 2000 foreign aid bill.

GENERAL ASSEMBLY GUIDANCE:

This action is consistent with the 210th General Assembly's resolution calling upon the U.S. Government to make continued aid and military assistance to Israel contingent on its fulfilling the terms of the Oslo Accords. Also relevant is the call of the 208th General Assembly's statement on the "Arab-Israeli Peace Process," to end the arms trade by using United State's aid funds as a way to strengthen peace.