Thursday’s planned Washington trip by an Israeli delegation to discuss US special aid has been postponed for several days, for “technical reasons relating to the coordination of the Americans’ timetable.”
Minister for Economic Affairs at the Israel Embassy in Washington Boaz Raday said, “A new date will be scheduled soon.”
The original date was arranged with the US National Security Council, with the participation of representatives from the Departments of State and Defense and the White House Office of Management and Budget. The need to coordinate a timetable with all these offices led to the meeting’s postponement.
The Israeli delegation was due to include Prime Minister's Bureau director Adv. Dov Weissglass, Ministry of Finance director general Ohad Marani, Accountant General Nir Gilad, and possibly Ministry of Defense director general Amos Yaron.
The delegation was scheduled to hold the almost final round of talks on Israel request for a $4 million military aid grant and $8 billion in loan guarantees from commercial banks.
The talks were to focus on Israel’s economic reform plan. The US is demanding clarifications on how Israel intends to resume growth and reduce its budget deficit.
Published by Globes [online] - www.globes.co.il - on February 11, 2003