(Jerusalem Post) Matthew Gutman - A quarter of a million dollars was offered as compensation in April 1982 to each of some 2,000 families, according to Shmuel Albeck, the architect of the Begin administration's removal and compensation plan for the Sinai settlements. In all, the government of Israel shelled out $500 million (about $1 billion in 2003 dollars) to compensate the evacuated, said Albeck. Removing 7,500 settlers from Gaza this time around will cost the Israeli government far more than that. Prime Minister Sharon aims to evacuate a much larger population, with much deeper roots, and far more extensive infrastructure. Economists believe the evacuation of the Gaza Strip could cost nearly $10 billion.
2004-02-05 00:00:00Full ArticleBACK Visit the Daily Alert Archive