Washington, Nov 05: The Bush administration is seeking to provide Israel with $2.22 billion in military assistance in fiscal year 2005, the State Department has said. At the 36th meeting of the US-Israel joint political military group held in Israel on October 29-30, the United States and Israel exchanged letters "confirming the intent of the administration, subject to Congressional approval, to provide Israel $2.22 billion in foreign military assistance in fiscal year 2005," the State Department said in a media note. Fiscal year 2005 starts October 1, 2004 and runs to September 30, 2005.

During the meeting, the Bush administration reaffirmed its commitment "to enhancing Israel's security and maintaining Israel's qualitative edge over any combination of adversaries", the note added. Bureau Report