US aid for Israel
"Meanwhile, Israel is sending a delegation to Washington next week to open talks on a multibillion-dollar aid package. It is hoping to speed up the deal by agreeing not to use the funds for Jewish settlements in Palestinian territories, US sources said. The delegation, led by Prime Minister Ariel Sharon's chief of staff, Dov Weisglass, will meet with White House and Treasury officials considering Israel's request for $US4 billion ($7 billion) in military assistance and up to $US10 billion in US-backed loan guarantees. The Bush Administration denies aid will be tied to Israeli co-operation with any US military campaign against Iraq."

If the US was at all serious about dismantling the settlements and withdrawing from the Occupied Territories, it would simply suspend existing aid until that is done.

US aid for Israel
"Meanwhile, Israel is sending a delegation to Washington next week to open talks on a multibillion-dollar aid package. It is hoping to speed up the deal by agreeing not to use the funds for Jewish settlements in Palestinian territories, US sources said. The delegation, led by Prime Minister Ariel Sharon's chief of staff, Dov Weisglass, will meet with White House and Treasury officials considering Israel's request for $US4 billion ($7 billion) in military assistance and up to $US10 billion in US-backed loan guarantees. The Bush Administration denies aid will be tied to Israeli co-operation with any US military campaign against Iraq."

If the US was at all serious about dismantling the settlements and withdrawing from the Occupied Territories, it would simply suspend existing aid until that is done.