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Palestinians Expect Huge Foreign Aid Package
In the: "We broke it you pay for the repairs catagory". EFL&sanity

JERUSALEM — The Palestinians expect a large aid package from the United States Expect? Begging for is a much better description and other donor countries to help rebuild the Gaza Strip after an Israeli withdrawal, the Palestinian foreign minister said Thursday.
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The two sides are nowhere near a deal which would require major concessions, including agreement by Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat to give up some of his power Yeah Right and an implicit recognition of Israel by Hamas I repeat: YEAH RIGHT! (only louder).The Islamic militant group, which has killed more than 300 Israelis in attacks since 2000, seeks Israel’s destruction.

Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon has said he expects to withdraw from Gaza in the coming year. As part of Sharon’s unilateral "disengagement," Israel would also impose a boundary in the West Bank, at least temporarily.
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The Palestinians fear Sharon is giving up Gaza in order to tighten his hold on much of the West Bank Now why on earth would Sharon want to do that?. However, they also said they welcome any withdrawal.

Shaath said the Palestinians will demand DEMAND? Now there’s a case of misplaced selfconfidence for ya. that the United States do "nothing that will pre-empt a permanent settlement, neither on borders nor refugees or anything."

In the event of a Gaza withdrawal, "the Americans should be ready with the World Bank and other donors to make massive economic support for the Palestinian Authority," Shaath whined said in interview with Israel Radio. He did not give a sum.

The Palestinians, already heavily dependent on international aid, are hoping for more money to help rebuild an economy shattered in more than three years of fighting with Israel.

Shaath said the funds were needed for "relief, reconstruction, economic activities, labor and job creation, and others."

Shaath was quoted as saying he is aware of American expectations that in return for the aid, the Palestinians crack down on militant groups and arrest those behind the bombing of an U.S. convoy in Gaza in OctoberAmong other things.

In other developments Thursday, the Israeli military said 27 wanted Palestinians were arrested in overnight raids across the West BankGood score. Palestinian officials said two of those arrested were female students from the Al Quds university in Nablus.
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Posted by: Evert Visser in NL 2004-04-08
http://www.rantburg.com/poparticle.php?ID=30036