US aid for implementing the disengagement plan from the Gaza Strip and northern Samaria will be only channeled toward covering the cost of moving IDF bases to within the Green Line, and for specific projects in the Negev and Galilee. The US will not provide and Israel will not ask for aid for financing civilian aspects of the disengagement plan and compensation for settlers, said Israeli sources in advance of a round of US-Israeli talks on a new aid package, to be held on Monday in Washington.
The Israeli delegation for the talks includes Vice Premier Shimon Peres, Israel Ambassador to the US Daniel Ayalon (who participating in the talks for the US loan guarantees in 2003), Prime Minister Office director general Ilan Cohen, Ministry of Finance director general Dr. Joseph Bachar, Office of the Vice Premier director general Efrat Duvdevani, and Economic Minister to North America Ron Dermer.
National Security Council Senior Director for Near East, Southwest Asian and North African Affairs Elliot Abrams will head the US delegation. Other members will include representatives from the National Security Council, Office of Management and Budget at the White House, and the Departments of State and Treasury.
The US has already said that it would not bear the cost of evacuating settlers, apparently due to concern that such aid would be perceived, at least in the Arab world, as post hoc support of Israel’s settler movement. The Israeli sources reiteration that no such aid would be given is intended to avoid erroneous expectations by the Israeli public.
Sources involved in the matter said the Israeli delegation had no plans to ask for a specific amount of aid, but would submit a list of “needs and costs”, which would form the basis of negotiations between the parties.
Monday’s round of talks basically follow talks between Prime Minister Ariel Sharon and US President George W. Bush at the White House in April 2004, when Bush promised to help strengthen Israel’s economy, especially in the Galilee and Negev, among other things.
Published by Globes [online], Israel business news - www.globes.co.il - on July 10, 2005