Washington might award Israel by 5 billion; Shaath: Hamas joining the authority is linked to its commitment to cease fire
The Israeli daily Yediot Ahronot said yesterday that Washington might offer Israel 5 billion dollars for the separation plan which is prepared by the prime minister Ariel Sharon, while the Palestinian prime minister Nabil Shaath linked any participation for the Hamas movement in the Palestinian authority to the movement's commitment to cease fire.
The paper said that the calculation of the government indicate that the costs of separation might range between 54 billion Shekels ( one USD billion), including giving compensations for the settlers and tranferring them to new residential areas and an investment in supporting security means around the Gaza sector.
The paper quoted sources in washington as saying "that the administration positively think of a request of transferring a reward of USD 10 billion for two purposes: developing Negev area and fighting terrorism. This aid will be spent only after the completion of the withdrawal from Gaza and evacuating the settlements in the West Bank in the course of a disengagement plan." Worthy mentioning that Sharon's office on Wednesday denied that Israel had asked the US any financial demand for the withdrawal.
The paper said that Sharon had asked from the leader of the Israeli opposition Shimon Peres for talks with the deputy chairman if the World Bank for a donation of 5 billion dollars to develop the Negev in parallel with a plan by the World Bank to transfer a similar donation in its size for developing Gaza after the Israeli withdrawal.
Meantime, Shaath told the Israeli radio that the idea of Hamas's participation in the authority is linked to " Israel's withdrawal from Gaza and a complete cease fire." He added "we do hope that there is an actual cease fire after the withdrawal."
Shaath who will be heading shortly for the US said that " then Hamas will be actually comitted " to the imposition of honoring the truce in a way that " the Palestinian security forces will only punish those who violate the cease fire without getting into a comprehensive war" against splitting sides. He added that the US and the World Bank are ready to provide "a huge economic aid" to Gaza after an Israeli withdrawal. He renewed the position of the Palestinian authority which considers that withdrawal from Gaza should be in " coordination" with the Palestinian authority.
Meantime, member of the political movement of Hamas said in reply to Shaath statements that his movement did not ask for participation in the current Palestinian authority. Sheikh Saeed Seyam said that this condition is not "in its due place." Seyam said "we did not ask for participation in the existing Palestinian authority but we do talk about the Israeli withdrawal from Gaza, and when we take part in the ( authority), our participation is based on our kinship relations and brotherhood." He stressed that "as far as occupation exists, resistance will continue." He said "if occupation gets out of Gaza and it has become clean from occupation then we can participate in the arrangements."
Meantime, Israeli military sources said that the Israeli army detained in Nablus and Hebron on Wednesday evening 27 Palestinians suspected to be involved in attacks against Israelis. The Palestinian prisoners affairs ministry said that the occupation army detained one employee in the ministry at his office in Ramullah during a breaking in operation.
Meanwhile, thousands of Israelis took the streets of Hebron on the occasion of the Jewish Easter in solidarity with hundreds of the Israeli settlers who occupy almost half of the city.