Israel wants to be PAID to fulfill the disengagement - $3B

[Sauron]

I wouldn't mind the spending so much, if this was really a disengagement - too bad it is not.

http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/567394.html

U.S. and Israeli officials meet over disengagement funds
By Haaretz Staff

Israel has asked for indirect financial aid ahead of the disengagement, and the Bush administration has agreed to front Jerusalem a 3 billion-dollar financial guarantee until 2008, Israel Radio said Wednesday.

Israeli delegates met with the U.S. officials in Washington predawn on Wednesday to begin talks on financial aid for development in the Negev and the Galilee.

Jerusalem is also asking for assistance in funding the relocation of Israel Defense Forces bases after this summer's planned disengagement from Gaza and some settlements in the northern West Bank.

Finance Ministry Director-General Dr. Yossi Bachar met with U.S. national security officials and they discussed forming a joint U.S.-Israeli committee to address the matter.

The United States has also agreed to spread Israel's financial guarantees over the next three years, two years later than was initially scheduled.