Archive photo
Photo: AP
Bank of Israel Governor Stanley Fisher (archive photo)
Photo: Yael Keisar
US-Israel aid agreement in works
Senior officials open series of meetings to formulate new economic assistance plan for next 10 years; ‘Talks reflect the deep historical and security ties between the United States and Israel, based on our shared values and common interests,’ joint statement says
WASHINGTON - Senior Israeli officials and their American counterparts opened a series of meetings Thursday in a bid to formulate a new economic assistance agreement for the next 10 years.
The officials, including Bank of Israel Governor Stanley Fischer and US Under Secretary for Political Affairs Nicholas Burns, were working on defining the planned strategic cooperation between the two countries and Israel’s military and economic needs.
“These talks reflect the deep historical and security ties between the United States and Israel, based on our shared values and common interests,” the officials said in a joint statement.
“The meeting today is another manifestation of the unshakable commitment by the United States to Israel's security and a step towards fortifying and enhancing the strategic relationship between our two countries.”
The last economic agreement between the US and Israel was signed in 1996 and is set to expire in 2007. The US allocates $2.4 billion in annual aid to Israel, and Jerusalem is looking to anchor the assistance in a multi-year agreement.
Other participants included Israeli Ambassador to the United States Sallai Meridor and Yarom Ariav, director general of Israel's Ministry of Finance.
