Olmert: Convergence to cost USD 10 billion [View All]

PM Olmert tells Wall Street Journal he will seek broad international support for his plan to withdraw some 70,000 settlers from West Bank; On planned May visit to U.S. PM will ask financial backing for plan, which will be completed within 18 months

http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3239420,00.html

<snip>

"In an interview published Wednesday in the Wall Street Journal, Prime Minister Ehud Olmert said his “convergence plan” will cost up to USD 10 billion.

Olmert said he plans to visit Washington in May to seek U.S. political and financial backing for his plan.

The newly appointed prime minister said he intends on withdrawing 70,000 Jewish settlers from the West Bank, less than a third of the 250,000 currently living beyond the Green Line.

In return, Israel will keep hold of large West Bank settlement blocks, where most of the evacuees will be relocated.

Olmert will ask for Washington to help him gather international support for plans to draw up final borders with the Palestinians to ensure a Jewish majority in Israel for decades to come."