U.S. Aid to Israel

I feel obliged to point to the lack of balance in your editorial comment. You bring repeatedly to your taxpayer-readers the point that the current American aid package to Israel is $2.6 billion--as if that were inexcusable “charity” to Israel--and indicate horror that the package might increase to $4.05 billion in 1986.

What you find convenient to ignore and not report to your taxpayer-readers are the following facts:

1--The United States contributes more than $80 billion a year to the support of Western Europe through NATO.

2--The United States has spent $38 billion for the security of South Korea and the Far East.

3--Israel pays back its loans on time. More than $5 billion was repaid from 1973 to 1982.

4--Net aid to Israel in 1984 is $1.45 billion ($2.6 billion, less $1.15 billion scheduled loan repayments).

5--Aid to Israel in 1976 was $2.2 billion. Hence, the 1984 appropriation for Israel is a reduction in real terms of 65% since 1976 (using an average inflation rate of 10%).

6--Only $250 million (less than 18%) of the 1984 net aid will transfer to Israel. The rest (over 82%) remains in the United States, where it is spent. Every $1 billion worth of aid to Israel creates 60,000 to 70,000 jobs in the United States.

7--The current aid level could have been even lower had not Israel been required to relinquish military installations and oil wells in the Sinai for the sake of a U.S.-imposed “peace” treaty with Egypt.

8--The $1.45 billion net aid to Israel in 1984 is a bargain--not charity. In return, Israel stands as a main spearhead for buttressing U.S. interests in the Middle East. The United States would have to spend $150 billion a year in the Middle East to maintain a force equivalent to Israel’s. Unlike Europe (where the United States spends $80 billion) and Asia (where the United States spent $38 billion), no American military personnel are needed to defend Israel.

Of course, Israel is not happier than the U.S. government or the average American taxpayer that the U.S. official aid continues to be so important and necessary to meet current economic contingencies. Israel looks forward to the day that this official aid can stop and foreign currency needs will be met through U.S. private investment in projects in Israel.

RAPHAEL COHEN Beverly Hills