Bush administration provides Israel with 9 billion

The US administration informed Israel, just few hours before the beginning of the American war against Iraq after its approval of providing the special package of aid to Israel.

According to this notification the American administration will provide Israel with loans guarantees at a value of 9 billion dollars for four years and a military package estimated at one billion.

US National Security Advisor Condoleezza Rice talked with the Israeli finance minister Benjamin Netanyahu and informed him on the details of the package.

Despite that Israel asked for 8 billion as loan guarantees, the US administration decided to offer Israel more because of the "positive impression of the new economic plan" of the government of Sharon, the US considered as a precondition to provide the guarantees. Americans asked Israel for a bunch of economic reforms especially in the area of privatizing the public sector and the labor market.

Netanyahu asked Rice for that the military aid will be given at one time and as soon as possible.

According to the Israeli information, Rice promised to study the Israeli request, positively. Israel had asked for this aid as a compensation for the spending by the Israeli army in preparation for the war against Iraq and in the war against the Palestinians.