- The Prime Minister,s Office claims US demands for changes
in the separation fence route mean NIS 1.5 billion will be wasted.Yoav
Yitzhak 10 Feb 04 09:02 Prime Minister Ariel Sharon will ask US President
George W. Bush for $2 billion in aid next week to finance the evacuation
of settlements in the Gaza strip and several settlements in the West Bank.
With this money, Sharon intends to finance the construction of two settlements
in the Negev, and compensation to those who will be forced to leave their
homes. Sharon also seeks to finance a railway from Eilat to the center
of the country in this way.
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- Sharon is also due to ask Bush for help in financing
construction of the separation fence on a new route, close to the Green
Line. The Prime Minister's Office estimates that the aid request will be
granted in part, and that even if it is granted, the aid will be given
in the form of long-term loans.
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- The Prime Minister's Office claims that the demand by
the US that the route of the fence should be changed means that NIS 1.5
billion will have been wasted. Ministry officials therefore believe that
there are grounds for requesting US aid in this matter.
- Published by Globes [online] - www.globes.co.il - on
February 8, 2004
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- http://www.globes.co.il/serveen/globes/docview.asp?did=769287&fid=942
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