Shamir assails attempt to block Israeli aid increase

Israeli Foreign Minister Yitzhak Shamir said the Reagan administration's attempt to block an increase in American aid for Israel could threaten Middle East peace.

Mr. Shamir said the Reagan administration was opposing the increase because it wanted to persuade Arab states to support the President's Mideast peace plan. The US Senate Appropriations Committee voted Dec. 2 to increase military and economic aid for Israel for 1983 despite statements by the administration opposing the move. The decision still must be approved by the House Appropriations Committee and the whole Senate.