Special American aids to Israel at US $ 400 million

US sources said on Thursday that the US administration decided to offer special financial aids to Israel estimated at US $ 400 million to enable it take necessary measures to protect Israel against what it called untraditional weapons.

The Israeli radio said on Thursday that the US and Israel are discussing the question of offering Israel the position of " the strategic ally."

On the other hand, both the two candidates for the US presidency, the Democratic Al Gore and Republican George Bush agreed on saying that the US has to continue the role of the " honest broker " in the ME peace process.

In a joint hearing which lasted for 90 minutes on Wednesday evening at Walk Winston, North Carolina, al-Gore said the US stand with Israel but we have to keep the role of the honest broker.

George Bush, for his part said that permanent peace in the Middle East should be a peace for the interests of the Arabs and Israel and therefore using an honest broker is a reasonable expression.