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U.S. Lawmakers Question Military Aid to Egypt, Citing Concerns about Israel
(Washington Post) Ernesto Londono - Concerned about Egypt's political instability and the U.S. budget crunch, a growing number of American lawmakers are challenging the wisdom of providing $1.3 billion a year in military aid to Cairo. Lawmakers say that Washington's largess, which includes large fleets of M1A1 tanks and F-16 fighter jets, could backfire, given the unpredictability of Egypt's Islamist-led government and its fraught relationship with Israel. Ensuring that Cairo continues to adhere to the terms of the Camp David Accords, a deal which is explosively unpopular on the Egyptian street, is the Obama administration's leading incentive to continue the aid. But the U.S. has other interests, including continued naval access to the Suez Canal. It also wants to help Egypt restore order in the Sinai Peninsula bordering Israel, that has become a breeding ground for Islamist militants. During his confirmation hearing, Secretary of State John Kerry said cutting Egypt off would be harmful to U.S. interests. "Egypt is a quarter of the Arab world....It is critical to everything we aspire to see happen in the Middle East."