Minister of Finance Benjamin Netanyahu: The Americans have allowed Israel to issue $3 billion in loans backed by the US guarantees in 2003 and in each the following two years.
Hebrew daily “Yediot Ahronot” quotes Minister of Finance Benjamin Netanyahu as saying yesterday that the Ministry of Finance had not yet decided whether to use the US loan guarantees for this year in full.
“I can’t precisely say when we’ll issue government bonds backed by the US loan guarantees, and if we’ll utilize the full $3 billion in guarantees for this year,” he said.
Netanyahu added that the US had allowed Israel to issue $3 billion in loans backed by the US guarantees in 2003 and in each the following two years.
He said the Ministry of Finance would examine the timing and amount of the bond issues, based on market interest rates.
A few days ago, US President George W. Bush confirmed the decision allowing Israel to begin issuing bonds this year using the US loan guarantees.
Published by Globes [online] - www.globes.co.il - on July 3, 2003