ISRAEL SEEKS BILLIONS IN U.S. AID FOR WITHDRAWAL

JERUSALEM [MENL] -- Israel seeks billions of dollars in aid from the UnitedStates for plans for a unilateral withdrawal from the West Bank and GazaStrip. Israeli officials said the government of Prime Minister Ariel Sharon hasraised the issue informally with the Bush administration. They said thatover the next few months an Israeli request for U.S. aid would be relayed toWashington.