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Israel's Peres seeks US aid for Gaza pullout
Israeli Vice Premier Shimon Peres said Tuesday he is going to Washington to seek U.S. financial aid for Israel's withdrawal from the Gaza Strip.
Peres told Israel's Army Radio he will meet Vice President Dick Cheney and other administration officials and ask them to assist with the withdrawal from the Gaza Strip and four West Bank settlements.
Peres, who leaves for the United States late Tuesday, refused to say how much money Israel is seeking. He did say the money would also be used to develop the Galil and Negev Desert. Israel wants to relocate Jewish settlers slated for evacuation to these areas and is offering extra compensation to those who agree to move to the peripheral regions.
One official close to the Bush administration said officials in Washington estimated Israel would request $500 million in aid.
Israel has budgeted about $1 billion for the pullout.
But the withdrawal could cost a great deal more once Israel finishes compensating the 9,000 evacuated settlers, moves its military installations and completes construction of the new fences and surveillance equipment it is putting along its border with Gaza, a government official said on condition of anonymity. |
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