U.S. Aid to Israel

Your editorial (Dec. 21), “Care Package Too Big,” has focused on the need for Israel to make further budget cuts before the United States considers increased aid to Israel. Superficially appealing, but let us add some perspective.

First, the area for Israeli budget-cutting is more limited than supposed. With a total national budget of $21 billion, $10 billion goes to servicing the national debt, and $5.5 billion goes to defense expenditures--in an environment where Israel’s neighbors (aside from Egypt) receive huge amounts of U.S. and Soviet arms.

It follows that only about $5.5 billion lends itself to cuts. That sum is the base for all health, education and welfare projects in the country. When suggestions are made that Israel must cut $2 billion, it must be understood that such cuts would be more than 30% of the budgeted funds used to serve basic human needs.

When we realize how we in the United States engage--appropriately--in major battles over cuts of a few percentage points in funding basic human services, we ought to have greater understanding for Israel’s dilemma.

Second, the tone and approach of the editorial suggests that the United States is merely giving away money to Israel, when in fact the money is a wise and relatively inexpensive investment on behalf of Western and U.S. strategic interests. The United States spends approximately $100 billion a year on NATO to protect Europe; in that context the $2.6 billion that we provide Israel as a reliable, strong ally to counter Soviet-radical influence in the vital Middle East is well spent. How many billions would it cost us (some experts say $90-$100 billion) to station troops in the Middle East the way we have in Europe and Asia? Israel has not and will not ask for our forces to be stationed there; we certainly do not want to send them. We don’t have to, however, because Israel, with our economic aid, provides a bastion of strength without American soldiers.

The Soviet navy is the dominant naval force close to the Mediterranean; for the United States to compete it would have to withdraw some of its fleet from either the Indian or Pacific Ocean. But we know, as do the Soviets, that the strong Israeli air force--armed by the United States--has the potential to sink the entire Soviet navy in the region in four days. How many billions is this really worth?

One could go on. High-level Israeli intelligence; the most sophisticated ports, medical facilities and airfields; research and development in arms from battle experience; a potential staging area for U.S. forces--all these work to the U.S. advantage and Soviet disadvantage.

In sum, yes, Israel will have to make further difficult cuts, but the United States must remember that Israel is operating within a very limited area of choices. When we talk of increased aid to Israel we are really talking about how we can advance American, as well as Israeli, interests. With that perspective, we can move ahead toward the most constructive approach,.

MAXWELL E. GREENBERG Los Angeles Greenberg is honorary national chairman of the Anti-Defamation League of B’nai B’rith .