http://www.haaretzdaily.com/hasen/pages/ShArt.jhtml?itemNo=221671&contrassID=2&subContrassID=1&sbSubContrassID=0&listSrc=Y

Home PM plans to ask U.S. for aid that could top $10 billion, Ha'aretz Israel), October 22, 2002

"An inter-ministerial team headed by Prime Minister Ariel Sharons's bureau chief, Dov Weisglass, is working on a proposal requesting
American economic assistance that could top $10 billion. The team includes representatives from the treasury, the Foreign Ministry and the Defense Ministry. A government source said the reason for the aid request stems from the United States' expected campaign against Iraq coupled with the American desire that Israel not interfere with Washington's plans or use
IDF troops against Iraq. Sources at the Prime Minister's Office said yesterday that American readiness to provide economic assistance has not been made in concrete terms. However, a number of ideas have cropped up in Jerusalem over the type of aid Israel could use: cash, guarantees for low-interest bank loans from American banks, direct state-to-state loans from the U.S. treasury, and the conversion of some American defense aid into shekels. Currently, Washington provides Israel $2.1 billion a year that must be spent in the United States on defense supplies. One proposal is for $2 billion to be converted to shekels and used to purchase defense equipment from Israeli manufacturers in the hope that it would invigorate the Israeli economy."

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