Shutdown hits US aid to Israel

The $3.2 billion annual US military aid to Israel due to be paid on October 1 was not transferred.

The transfer of US military aid to Israel has been hit by the US government shutdown because of the dispute between the White House and Congress over the Affordable Care Act, Israel's Minister of Economic Affairs to the US Eli Groner has told "Globes."

He said, "We are not talking about a specific step regarding Israel. There is no budget for most government activities because there is no Budget Act or decision for a continuing resolution for ongoing financing for the coming financial year, and that includes the budget for foreign aid."

By a special arrangement Israel receives all its military aid from the US government on the first day of the financial year. Israel was supposed to receive $3.2 billion for the 2014 financial year on October 1.

Earlier US State Department deputy spokesperson Marie Harf confirmed that aid to Israel and other US allies would not be transferred on time. This is not the first occasion that US aid to Israel has been delayed by budget disputes.

Published by Globes [online], Israel business news - www.globes-online.com - on October 3, 2013

© Copyright of Globes Publisher Itonut (1983) Ltd. 2013

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