Obama won't cut aid to Israel
2008-10-05 23:51
Special Report
President-elect Barack Obama's incoming administration could include Republicans, or even some members of the current Cabinet, a top transition aide says.
Tel Aviv - US presidential candidate Senator Barack Obama has promised not to cut foreign aid to Israel if he is elected in November, a spokesperson for Obama has said.
In a statement to the Israeli business daily Globes, the spokesperson said he would honour existing agreements pertaining to foreign aid and as such was committed to "increasing aid to Israel to $30bn over 10 years".
In the vice-presidential debate last week, Obama's running mate, Senator Joe Biden, said their administration would have to hold back on plans to double foreign aid in general in light of the financial crisis in the US.
Israel is estimated to receive over $2.5bn each year in foreign aid from the US, in addition to other grants for projects, such as joint military research and development.
- DPA