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Although Congress has decided to delay finishing up its legislative work until after Thanksgiving, the Clinton administration made the request this week.

The package also includes an additional $225 million in military funds for Egypt, and $25 million in military funds and $50 million in economic funds for Jordan.

The supplemental aid reques has been in the works for many months. It is separate from the $3 billion in aid to Israel, including $1.98 billion in military and $840 million in economic funds, that Congress approved last month as part of the $14.9 billion foreign operations bill.

But beyond the annual aid package, President Clinton is, according to officials, intent on making good on a promise to Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak, who wants to have something to show for his peacemaking efforts, especially given his weak government.

The supplemental package includes $200 million in military funds for Israel as well as $250 million to help defray the costs of the withdrawal from Lebanon.

With violence continuing in Israel, the package seems like something of a consolation prize for Israel.

The aid to Egypt and Jordan, countries with formal peace treaties with Israel, is intended as a nod to two nations supportive of the peace process. The aid is also perhaps meant to shore up the United States' image as an "honest broker" in the Middle East, according to sources close to the process.

There is no money in the additional package for the Palestinians.